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Once upon a time there was a princess locked in a castle. She had been cursed on her thirteenth name day by a grieving farmer. Her father had ordered the execution of the farmer’s son for a simple crime of stealing food. So, the farmer sought to pay back the king’s actions.
He came before the king to proclaim the curse he had placed “On the princess’s thirteenth name day, she will bring calamity and misfortune wherever she resides.”
At first the king did not take the curse seriously. “How can a mere farmer curse a king? I have many powerful wizards working for me.” he boasted. He had the farmer executed for treason.
However, soon disaster struck. The kingdom was plagued by a drought not seen in its lifetime. With no rain, the crops withered and died. The lakes and rivers soon dried up. As the people died of thirst and lack of food, the king faced a rebellion.
As his closest advisors scrambled to find a solution, the king remembered the farmer’s words. When he went to his court wizards, they confirmed that the princess had indeed been cursed though had not manifested until her thirteenth year. None could break the curse as it was too powerful.
However, the farmer was not completely without a heart. He knew cursing an innocent child was not what his own son would have wanted. So, on his last breath before his execution, he amended the curse. “If the princess can find true love, the curse will be broken.”
The king tried his best to find a neighboring kingdom to marry his daughter so she may find true love. However, many were hesitant as the curse would affect their lands, and there was no guarantee she would find true love. Without anyone to take his daughter’s hand, he decided to lock her away on a piece of territory far away from the kingdom. The court wizards assured the king that once the princess left his lands, the curse would no longer affect the kingdom.
At the age of fourteen, the princess was locked away in a castle. True to the court wizards’ words, the drought ceased and rain fell. However, the area around the castle that had once been filled with magnificent trees became barren and infested by monstrous creatures. Only a few people ventured to the castle to supply the princess with food and other necessities every month.
The princess lived alone and learned to take care of herself. Though she had books to keep her company, she longed to talk to someone. Those who came to bring her necessities dared not speak or even look at her. The fear of the curse was too great.
On her nineteenth name day, something changed.
A great dragon appeared in the skies above the castle. The dragon’s obsidian scales gleamed in the sun like jewels. His wings caused a strong gale to form as he settled in front of the castle. He dwarfed the castle as if it was miniature plaything.
His gleaming emerald eyes peered at the princess as she stood outside on the tallest tower of the castle even as he laid down to rest. Though he could swallow her and the castle in one bite, and she shook like a leaf, she was curious. She had read many books on dragons, but the pictures from those books did not do justice for the magnificent being.
They stared at each other in silence until the princess blurted out, “Is it true dragons like shiny things?” She clapped her hands over her mouth.
The dragon laughed, amused. His laughter shook the very foundation of the castle. “Some of us do like shiny things. But we all have different preferences much like you humans.”
Eyes sparkling with interest, she asked more questions. The dragon humored her and answered everyone without missing a beat. Once the princess had run out of questions, the dragon asked one of his own.
“Are you not afraid of me, little princess? Most humans tend to scream in terror, runaway or try to attack.”
She shook her head. “Of course I’m afraid. You could swallow me in one bite if you so wished. But, my curiosity won over my fear. And…it’s nice to be able to speak with someone after all this time.”
The dragon could see the curse that surrounded the princess; it was a dark mist that shrouded her entire being. Even if he wished to help her, he could not lift a curse like this. “Your curse can only be broken by your own hands. Stay strong, little princess, and one day you will be free,” he encouraged.
As the dragon turned to leave, the princess called to him. “Will you return? I…might have more questions.”
He chuckled. “Perhaps I will. You are an interesting human to say the least.” With those words, he beat his strong wings and took off into the night.
The princess watched as he became a speck in the sky. How she longed to fly somewhere faraway. But she knew she couldn’t go anywhere because her curse would follow and affect any place she went. She was not so selfish as to inflict suffering on others. She would continue to sit and read her books while imagining the places in her mind. And hopefully the dragon would return so she would have someone to talk with.
The dragon did return a few days later. Elated, the princess had already written down questions she had come up while he was away. Despite the barrage of inquiries, the dragon didn’t seem to mind answering every single one. He went into great detail and seemed pleased to have someone so interested in what he had to say.
“Do you not dislike humans? Many books I’ve read said most dragons do not like to interact with humans.” She flipped through a few pages of one of the many books she had.
The dragon sighed. “Your kind tends to overreact when confronted with the unknown. I’ve met many humans in my lifetime. Some are better than others. I have learned not to judge so readily. If only your kind would do the same.”
“I understand what you mean… Why did you decide to come here of all places? This place is a wasteland filled with monsters.”
“I was curious about what had happened. Long ago this land used to be filled with lush trees, but when I happened to fly over, the landscape had changed.” He glanced at her with a single emerald eye. “I was surprised to learn the changes were caused by a single little princess.”
Pulling her legs to her chest, she rested her chin on her knees. “If I wasn’t cursed then this land would still be beautiful…”
“Do not blame yourself, little princess. You are not the one that got yourself cursed. I’m sure if your foolish father hadn’t killed the farmer, things would be different,” he said, consoling her.
Shoulders slumped, she smiled tentatively. “I wouldn’t have met you if not for this curse.”
“And it would have been a shame to not meet you,” he agreed.
And so the dragon would visit the princess and they would talk in length. Eventually, her questions of dragons expanded into questions about the world beyond her castle. He told her of the many lands he had seen as well as the many creatures that inhabited the world. Through his tales, the princess was able to see the world.
One day the princess received a surprise guest. A knight in shining armor riding a white steed road up to the castle gates. Unsure how to greet this stranger, she watched him from her tower, unwilling to open the gates to a stranger. The knight lifted his helmet and met her gaze from below.
“Princess, I have come from a land far away to save you from the wretched monster!” he proclaimed loudly.
Confused, she called down, “What monster do you speak of Sir knight? I’m sure you already saw the monsters on your way here. The monsters do not come near the castle, though.”
The knight shook his head. “I speak of the dragon that plagues your castle. Your father has sent word that an evil dragon placed a curse on you and prevents you from leaving the castle. If I were to slay it, would you not be free from your curse to marry me?”
Now the princess understood. It seemed her father had not forgotten her, though he had never visited once in the time she had been locked away. After all these years, her father was looking to bring her back. She couldn’t understand how slaying the dragon would break her curse when the farmer had stated it could only be broken if she found true love. She had yet to find this elusive thing known as true love; it didn’t help that from when she was fourteen, she had been isolated from human contact. Five years had gone by with no companionship beyond her dragon friend.
“I fear you are mistaken, Sir. My curse is not from the dragon but from a farmer who had been wronged. The only way to break my curse is for me to find true love,” she explained. “I believe your journey has been for not. Please let others know in case they decide to make this foolish journey.”
The knight laughed, but it was not warm like the dragon’s. His laughter was mocking. “Princess, your father has promised to make the one who slays the creature the country's next king. I’m sure your curse can be broken once you get to know me.”
Lips pressed together, the princess turned away. “Leave before my friend arrives.”
“Friend?! You mean that monster? Have you lacked human companionship for so long that you’d turn to a creature like that?” His words were laced with so much venom it sent shivers down her spine.
Before she could say more, the dragon’s shadow fell over the castle. The knight’s horse was frightened and almost threw the knight off as it reared back. The dragon landed in front of the knight, effectively blocking the castle gates.
“What brings you here, human?” the dragon asked. The princess could hear the disdain in his voice.
The knight was visibly trembling, but managed to speak. “I-I have come to slay you, foul beast! You’re reign of terror over the princess ends here! She will be mine!”
Snorting, the dragon turned to the princess still in the tower. “Little princess, do you wish to go with this knight?”
She shook her head quickly. “No. He only cares for the power and wealth my father offers.” She paused before adding, “But please do not kill him.”
Huffing, the dragon turned back to the knight. “You hear that, human. The little princess does not want you here. I will be generous and let you leave.”
Steeling himself, the knight unsheathed his sword. “I will end you and take the princess!” As he charged forward on his horse, the dragon merely swatted the knight with a flick of a single claw. The knight flew off the horse and slammed into a nearby tree. He passed out from the impact while the horse ran off.
Satisfied, the dragon turned back to the princess. “Do you wish to hear another of my tales, little princess?”
“Of course!” Forgetting all about the knight, the princess settled in comfortably to listen to him speak of another adventure.
The knight had limped back home, but he was not the last. Many knights came to try and slay the dragon. Each one was swiftly taken care of in a single strike once the princess rejected them. How could she fall in love with any of them when they only wished to be king? She was nothing but a means to the throne. They did not see her as a person let alone someone to love.
The princess had no desire to return to her kingdom. She had been away for so long, she couldn’t imagine going back. Her father was a complete stranger to her and court life was a mystery. Her curse would persist even if someone managed to defeat the dragon because she was certain being taken by force would not develop into true love. She would only bring misery to the kingdom once more.
“What would you want to do, little princess, if you were freed from your curse right now?” the dragon asked. For once no knight had come, so they were left in peace to talk.
She knew her answer immediately. “I would like to see the world. I want to travel to different countries, see the sights, and experience the culture. I want to be free to go wherever I want without bringing misfortune.”
“You do not wish to return home?” He titled his head as he watched her with his keen eyes.
“No. There’s nothing for me. My father hasn’t visited me since he placed me here. The only reason he’s thinking about me now is that he lacks an heir to rule the kingdom. Without an heir by my marriage, others from the extended family might try to take over. I am expendable even with my curse,” she explained.
Seeing her expression, the dragon gently nudged her cheek with his snout. “Fret not, little princess, you will be free someday.”
She gently patted the side of his jaw. “I’d like to go traveling with you someday, if you’re willing…?”
“I’d gladly take you anywhere you want.”
With that promise in mind, the princess continued to hope. Someday she’d leave the castle. Someday she’d see the world with her own eyes. For now she was content to spend her time listening to the dragon’s stories.
That someday came on her twenty-first name day. She made a small cake for herself with a single candle stuck in the middle. Climbing the tower, she looked up at the sky. Her dragon had not returned for many months. He had mentioned he was going away for a while, but the princess did not realize it would be for so long. He had promised to return, yet she couldn’t help but worry as days then weeks then months went by without him.
The knights had long stopped coming. None could beat the dragon even in groups. Though he did not kill any of them, they all left battered and bruised. None asked her if she even wanted to go with them. They assumed she would be grateful while their greed blinded them.
However, with her friend gone, she felt more alone than before. Her books did not bring her comfort. She missed his voice and his presence. She even wished a knight would show up if only to bring her dragon back.
Holding the plate with the small cake in her hands, she stared at the flame as it flickered. “I wish he was here,” she whispered. Closing her eyes, she blew the candle out.
“Happy birthday, little princess.” Opening her eyes, her dragon was before her.
Setting the cake aside, she wrapped her arms around his snout. “There you are,” she mumbled.
A pleased rumble came from the dragon. Pulling back, she eyed his form. She noted that he was missing scales here and there. There was a large scar on his chest near his heart that hadn’t been there before.
“What happened?” she asked, alarmed.
“Worry not, little princess. I am fine.” He nudged her hand before dropping a necklace in her waiting palms. “A gift for you.”
It was a round stone the same shade of green as the dragon’s eyes. Holding it in her hand, the stone felt warm and almost seemed to pulse with life. “It’s beautiful. Thank you!”
Putting the necklace on, she felt the warmth of the stone settle over her entire being. “It will protect you from any harm. When you need me, just hold the stone tight and ask. I will always be with you, little princess,” he explained.
Touched by his thoughtfulness, the princess gestured for him to come closer. “Could you lower your head?”
Once his head was lowered, she placed a kiss on his forehead. “I love it. And I love you, dear friend.”
The moment those words were uttered, the princess felt a weight being lifted off of her. She felt lighter than she had in years. The dragon chuckled at her surprised expression. He gently nudged her side.
“Congratulations, you have freed yourself from the curse,” he declared.
The princess could only stare in awe. “I’m finally free…”
“Where would you like to go first?” he asked, his eyes glimmered.
“Everywhere!” she exclaimed.
The dragon roared with laughter. “I’ll gladly take you.” He leaned into her touch as she pressed another kiss to his forehead. “I will always be by your side, my little princess.”
Free to go wherever she wanted, the princess and the dragon started a new chapter in their story.
---
You’re dreaming. No, it feels too real to be a dream. Perhaps it’s a memory. Looking around, you don’t fully recognize where you are, but your feet move on their own. Leaves crunch underfoot and a light breeze blows through the tall, dark trees. Despite the darkness, you’re not afraid. You’re chasing fireflies that seem to lead you deeper into the woods. You vaguely recall your gran lecturing you about going too far from the house.
Your body rushes through the trees and bushes with ease. You laugh as you try to catch the fireflies, but they always fly just out of reach. Stumbling a few times, you quickly catch yourself as the trees become thicker in number. Finally you come to a dead end of gnarled vines with sharp thorns.
You don’t miss a beat. “Please let me through.”
Only the sound of the night answers you, but then the vines seem to pull apart enough for you to easily slip by. You don’t hesitate to go despite the possible danger. Following the fireflies, you come to a clearing with lush grass.
Mushrooms dot the areas around the trees. In the middle is a circle of mushrooms. A child around the same age stands in the circle. His hair is the color of inky obsidian and his eyes are the brightest green you’ve ever seen. They almost seem to glow in the dark. Black, gleaming horns grow out of his head and his ears are pointed.
“Tsunotarou!” You rush over to him but stop short of stepping into the circle.
His once serious face breaks into a smile, revealing sharp fangs. “You came!” He steps outside the circle and grabs your hands. You’re about the same height though his horns add a bit more for him. His skin is cool compared to your own.
Grinning, you squeeze his hands. “Of course I came. I made a promise! Though if gran ever finds out I might be grounded for life… I can’t stay for long.”
He nods as he leads you to one of the trees. You both sit down and lean against the trunk. “Will you tell me another story?”
You nod. “Yup! Gran told me a good one last week.”
Despite his strange appearance, you aren’t afraid or even curious. Perhaps the childish part of you doesn’t care for your differences. There’s a familiarity you two share as he leans into your form as you start weaving one of your gran’s tales.
Being a child, you miss a few details or make up parts, but he doesn’t seem to mind. His eyes are the most expressive part. They’re completely focused on you from start to finish. As you wrap up the story, you feel a sense of pride. You wonder if gran would be proud of your storytelling abilities.
“That was amazing…” He breaths in awe.
You nod in agreement. “Gran always has the best stories. I’m gonna be like her someday and create lots of stories for people to enjoy!”
He’s quiet as he absorbs everything. You try your best to stifle a yawn, but he notices the sleepy look in your eyes. “Should I take you back?” he asks reluctantly.
Leaning against him, you sigh. “Wish you could take me home all the way.”
He chuckles as he takes your hand once more. “I can’t go past the thorns just yet. But I’ll keep practicing so one day you won’t have to travel as far. And maybe I can meet you at your house instead. Ready?” Standing, you grasp his other hand.
You watch in awe as the fireflies seem to gather around you both. Despite having done this many times now, you’re always at a loss for words. It’s like standing in a swarm of twinkling stars. A flash of bright light causes you to close your eyes. The light disappears just as quickly, and you’re back at the thick vines.
Tsunotarou holds your hand firmly. He’s unwilling to let your hand go. “You’ll come back to tell me another story, right?”
“Of course.” Holding out your pinky, you hook it with his. “I promise!”
He grins, revealing his sharp fangs once more. He stands on his tiptoes while leaning forward and presses a kiss to your forehead. “Thank you.” His lips are cool and soft, and his hair tickles your face making you giggle.
Pulling back, his brows knit together. “What?”
“You’re silly, Tsunotarou. But that’s why you’re my best friend!” Laughing, you copy his gesture by kissing his cheek. “Good night!”
Where he kissed you feels warm and tingly.
---
Waking up from your nap, you wipe the drool at the corner of your mouth. Your mind is hazy as you try to recall your dream. You can only remember bits and pieces. Peridot eyes. Sharp fangs. A soft, cool kiss on the forehead. Sighing, you rub the sleep from your eyes as you force yourself to come back to the present.
Looking outside the car window, you don’t recognize Briar Valley from your childhood. Gone are the quaint little houses, replaced with tall, sleek apartments. Even most of the small mom and pop stores are gone, being replaced with big chain stores and restaurants. None of your memories seem to match up with the new Briar Valley.
The car continues on to your destination, your gran’s house. Located further away from the hustle and bustle of the new city, her home borders the edge of the woods. As the car drives by, the scene changes into a familiar one. Less towering buildings are seen until they fully disappear to make way for small homes.
Once the car stops and you grab your suitcases, you stare at the house before you. You spent most of your childhood here while your parents were globetrotting for work. You have many fond memories of spending time with your gran, her homemade desserts, and exploring the woods. It was a different time compared to now.
The door opens and your gran’s wrinkled but kind face greets you. Grinning, you rush down the stone path to meet her. She envelopes you into a warm embrace filled with lavender and spice. Even though you’re now taller than her, you still feel like the small child from long ago. Her hug is safe and reassuring.
“Hello, gran!” She pulls away as she takes you in.
“You’ve grown so much, my child. It’s good to see you again,” she says, squeezing your arm lightly. “Come in! I just pulled some fresh bread out of the oven.”
You follow her into the house; she moves fast for someone her age. Inside, it’s like nothing has changed. It’s cozy and the smell of freshly made bread fills your senses. Setting your suitcase down in the hall, you shrug off your coat and hang it up on the rack. Walking into the kitchen, memories of standing next to her making pies come forth to your mind. You could barely see the counter at the time and had to stand on a stool.
“Sit! Sit!” She pats a stool near the island, and you obediently sit.
As you watch her expertly cut a slice of bread, you marvel at how she’s remained the same. Despite a few more wrinkles, she’s still rushing around while humming under her breath. “You’re still the same as ever,” you muse aloud.
She smiles, her eyes crinkling. “Of course. Why change something that isn’t broken? So, you saw the new buildings they’ve made?” She sets the slice of bread on a plate before handing it to you while clicking her tongue. Two jars of jelly are pushed closer to you along with some butter.
“It’s a totally different place, but here it seems to have remained the same.” You bite into the bread and savor the taste. “Amazing as always, gran!”
She settles on a stool and sighs. “They way things are changing, I’m afraid they might kick me out of the house one of these days. The land is considered valuable for development and contractors have been badgering me to sell. I won’t be bought!”
She’s always stated she would live in the house until her last breath. And knowing her, she’ll keep that promise. “Are they planning to tear down the woods too?”
She shakes her head. “They can’t as it’s considered protected land. Anyways, that’s just asking for trouble with the fair folk.”
Your lips quirk upward. “I haven’t heard about fae in a long time…” You recall all the stories and warnings you gran used to tell you when you were little. She even gave you a ring made of iron to wear around your neck on a leather cord. You lost it long ago.
She wags a finger at you, her lips pressed into a stern frown. “You may have gone away, but the fae never left. They’re still here and dangerous. You best remember what I told you.”
“Come on, gran. I’m too old for that.” Despite your light tone, she looks none too pleased that you aren’t taking her seriously.
“It doesn’t matter how old you get, they will always be a danger. Remember the baby that disappeared when you were little? They took him!” You resist the urge to roll your eyes.
You of course knew who she was referring to. A family had just brought home their new baby boy when disaster struck. The fire chief said the house had caught fire due to some faulty wire work. They had found the bodies of the parents, but not the baby. Your gran swore up and down that he was whisked away by the fae.
“Just don’t go wandering in the woods too far,” she adds with a shake of head in disapproval.
Your dream comes to mind. Tall, dark trees looming over a smaller version of yourself. Trying to forget that sudden image, you finish up your snack before placing your dish in the sink. “I’m going to head up to my room and unpack.”
“Alright. You know the way.” She’s already rushing around the kitchen as you grab the two suitcases.
The walls are filled with different pictures. Most of them are from when you were a kid. A few of your parents are scattered here and there. The floral wallpaper is peeling in parts, you notice. There’s a particularly squeaky step that you recall just as you put your weight on it. Your old room is empty of personal artifacts. You notice a pile of boxes stacked in the closet.
You place the clothes in the closet and dresser, and open the large bay window to air out the place. Most of your old childhood things were moved out when you left to live with your parents. The extra boxes must contain some things you forgot. It seems gran had wrapped and stored them away into the closet.
You glance down at your phone, chewing on your lower lip. The last message from your parents stares at you accusingly. They’re worried about gran living by herself out here. Despite their best efforts, she refuses to leave Briar Valley. So, they sent you to try and convince her; her favorite grandchild.
You two remained close despite moving away. She always wrote letters and sent cards. You would reply back with details of your day. Though your correspondence became less frequent, you often thought of her. She knew how to keep a rambunctious child entertained and mostly out of trouble.
Rubbing your temples, you mutter to yourself, “How am I supposed to convince her to leave?”
---
You’re sitting under a tree with the moon shining through the dense branches; you’re twelve. The boy from last time sits next to you, leaning against your side with his head resting on your shoulder. His eyes are closed as you finish your story.
“Did you like that one?” you ask, eyes shining as you wait for his answer.
His eyes slowly open and he smiles. “Yes. I like all the stories you tell me.” His eyes are sharp but hold a kindness to them.
Beaming, you feel warm inside. “I’m glad you enjoy them, Tsunotarou! Gran always has the best stories, so I’ve been learning from her to make my own. Do ya wanna hear the new one we made?”
“Of course.” He eagerly waits for you to start.
“Okay! First, get comfortable.” You pat your lap. The boy shifts his position so his head rests in your lap. He closes his eyes as you start weaving your tale about a princess and a dragon.
When you finally finish, he’s quiet as his eyes remain closed. You nervously wait for his response, but after a while, you start to worry. “D-did you not like it?”
Opening his eyes, he stares back at you. “No, I love it. I think this one was my favorite.” He flashes you a sharp toothed grin. “I especially like when the dragon scares away all the knights.”
Relief shows on your face. “Really? It took a long time to make this story with gran, so I’m glad you approved. I remember you said you like dragons, so I made sure to add one.”
“I do have one question, though. How was the curse broken if the princess didn’t find true love?” he asks, brows pinch together.
“The princess did find true love with her dragon friend. Gran says true love can come in different forms.” you explain. “Love can be between families or friends too. Like I love you, Tsunotarou. I love gran too.”
He’s silent as he stares at you thoughtfully. When he speaks, his voice is solemn. “Saying you love a fae can be a dangerous thing. Lilia always said you should be careful with your words.” You had heard about this Lilia before from him. He hadn’t explained much beyond Lilia being his caretaker from when he was a baby.
“I know that words have power to fae; gran told me. But I don’t think you would hurt me on purpose. You could ask for my name now, and I’d give it to you.” Brushing your fingers through his inky hair, you smile brightly. “I trust you, Tsunotarou!”
His eyes widen as he’s at a loss for words. He opens his mouth but quickly closes it. After a moment, the shock is replaced by a gentle smile. “I trust you too,” he murmurs.
After a while, you return home. Grabbing the flashlight you keep on the bedside table, you crawl under the bed. Setting the flashlight upward so it illuminates the area under the bed, you slide a loose floorboard away. In the nook is a simple brown journal and a few trinkets. You take the journal but pause when your eyes catch the iron ring tied to a leather cord. You feel a bit guilty lying to gran about losing the ring. You still recall the flash of pain in Tsunotarou’s eyes when he accidentally brushed against it when you hugged him.
Turning your attention to the journal, you open it up to where you last wrote. As you write down a bit about your day, you doodle some drawings here and there. Though you told gran mostly everything, you kept this to yourself.
Smiling to yourself as you finish drawing Tsunotarou, you scribble something underneath the picture. For now you’ll keep him a secret from gran. Perhaps someday you can tell her about your best friend.
---
Waking up from the dream, you stare at the ceiling of your childhood room. You can hear gran prattling around the kitchen already. Getting out of bed, you glance down at the space under the bed. It’s been such a long time that you almost forgot about your hiding place.
Kneeling, you look under with your phone flashlight. It’s fairly clean though you note a few dust bunnies. You can’t quite squeeze under there like you did as a kid, but you can reach far enough to feel the loose floorboard. Sliding it away, your hand touches the leather journal from your dream.
Taking it out, you inspect the journal. It’s covered in a thin layer of dust and is well worn on the spine. You set it aside while fishing inside the nook once more. You find a pencil stub, some candy that’s probably no good, a few tried flowers, and the ring. The iron is rusted and the cord frayed. You set that on the bedside table with the journal.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, you flip through the journal. Your handwriting wasn’t the best and you see multiple places where you scratched out words. As you skim the journal, you vaguely remember writing the entries. Stopping at one entry, a picture of what you assume is you and another child stares back. The child next to you has two green dots for eyes and triangles growing out of the head.
Under the drawing is ‘Tsunotarou - my best friend’ in your handwriting. Swallowing the lump in your throat, you try to sort through your thoughts. However, you hear gran call your name before you can delve deeper. Shoving the journal in the bedside table draw, you head downstairs for breakfast.
“Did you sleep well?” she asks once you both sit down.
You pour syrup over the french toast. “Yeah, it was good…” Despite the dreaming and possible revelation, you add mentally. “So what are your plans today, gran?”
“I’m going to work on the garden. Fall is almost here, so I have to clean everything up. My back hurts but I think I can get it done today.” She pours cream into her coffee and two lumps of sugar.
“Let me help, gran. You really shouldn’t be doing all that alone.” She waves you off with a dismissive hand.
“I’m not dead yet. I can take care of my garden. You’ve been gone so long, you might as well reacquaint yourself with Briar Valley.” Her firm tone tells you there’s no arguing with her. “But don’t stray too far into the woods, you hear.”
Biting the inside of your cheek, you nod. “Of course, gran.” You hate lying to her, but there’s something you need to see for yourself.
Once finished with breakfast, you head back upstairs to get dressed before leaving the house. Gran is already out in her backyard taking care of things when you leave. You wander around the neighborhood a bit. Most of the families you knew back then have moved on, and new families have taken their place.
You head for the woods near gran’s house, ducking down to make sure she doesn’t see you. The tall trees are bare and eerily sway in the wind. As you walk deeper in, you note it’s quiet despite being day. The occasional bird chirps, but it’s still too quiet. Sunlight does filter through the branches, but it does little to make the place seem less spooky. You wonder how your younger self could just run through the area in the middle of the night without worry.
Your walk is cut short by a wall of thick thorny vines. There’s no squeezing through that unless you wanted to end up a pincushion. Staring at the vines, you recall your younger self asking the vines to move. Glancing around, you don’t see anyone.
Turning back to the vines, you tentatively ask, “Um…please let me through?” You stand there for a minute. Then two. When nothing happens, you sigh, shaking your head. “Well that was dumb.” Feeling a little foolish, you turn to head back in the direction you came.
However, you hear some creaking noises and look back to see the vines moving out of the way. Mouth falling open, you stare at the perfectly sized gap for you to squeeze through. Muttering a few curses under your breath, you go despite your brain telling you not to. Just as you make it past, the vines come back together, effectively blocking your path back.
“Great.” You at least thought to bring your phone just in case. Shoving both hands into your coat pocket, you venture forward.
Just like before, you arrive at a clearing. The grass has mostly turned a dull color. There are still mushrooms surrounding the trees. And the mushroom circle is still there. You were half expecting to see a child with horns standing in the middle. However, there’s no fae child waiting for you.
You walk a bit closer but don’t step in. Gran’s warning of never stepping into mushroom circles echoes in your mind. It seems even as a child, you listened to that piece of advice. Looking up at the sky, you can just almost see the sun peeking through the thick branches. It’s completely silent, even the few birds have stopped making sounds. There’s a sense of calm and familiarity surrounding you. You should be concerned about the lack of noise, but you aren’t.
Instead, you allow yourself to remember what you’ve forgotten. Meeting a boy who isn’t human and yet befriending him despite your gran’s warnings. Visiting him during the day until gran caught you wandering off. Being scolded and promising her never to go deep into the woods again. Breaking that promise to sneak out of the house once gran goes to bed. Weaving the many tales gran had told you before to your friend as he listened in rapture. The iron ring burning his hand and you hiding it away while once again lying.
And the last memory before you left…
---
“My parents decided to buy a house far away, and they want me to live with them…” you say, sullen.
You stare up at Tsunotarou, head in his lap. He had been drawing patterns on the palm of your hand, but he’s still as you tell him the news. He’s looking at you but he doesn’t see you. You can see the cogs in his head going a mile a minute.
Continuing, you try to stop your voice from shaking with little success. “I-I leave tomorrow. I don’t t-think my I-I’ll be able to visit since it-s so far a-away…”
Tears well up and his image becomes a blur. You sit up suddenly as the tears fall, trying your best to wipe them away. Turning from him, you give up as they keep coming. “It’s not fair! They’ve been gone for so long and now they suddenly want me back!” you shout, your voice cracking.
“It’s okay,” he finally says. Scooting closer to you, he wraps his arms around your form. You lean into him as he rubs soothing circles on your back. “I’ll miss your stories, but you have to go.”
Sniffling, you shake your head. “I don't want to!”
“You’ll be okay. I’ll give you a blessing of protection.” Pulling away, he wipes away the tears trailing down your face. You probably look like a mess with snots coming out of your nose and puffy eyes. However, he merely smiles sadly before pressing a kiss to your forehead.
“May you be protected from any dangers,” he murmurs before pulling away. Again your forehead tingles from his touch.
Gripping his hand, your expression sobers. “I want to make a promise with you, Tsunotarou.”
He blinks once, twice, three times. Then he quickly shakes his head. “You don’t know what you’re offering.”
“I do! Gran always warned me never to make deals with fae. But you aren’t just any fae. You're my Tsunotarou, and I trust you. So please, let me do this before I leave tomorrow,” you beg.
He can’t say no to you and warily agrees. “Then I’ll make one as well.”
“I promise to come back to you someday.” You squeeze his hand before leaning forward to brush the hair in front of forehead away. You press a kiss on the black scales decorating his forehead before pulling away.
You already feel the power of your promise as it covers you like a blanket. Tsunotarou leans forward as he whispers his promise. “I promise to wait for your return no matter how long it takes.” He presses another kiss to your forehead.
With the promises sealed, he holds you for a little longer.
---
Eyes snapping open, you exhale deeply. “Tsunotarou?” you call out.
At first there’s nothing, but then you see something blinking in the corner of your vision. Then more blinking lights, no fireflies, surround you. For a moment you’re just surrounded by fireflies, but then they disappear in a flash and instead a figure appears. Standing in the mushroom circle is the boy with horns, except he’s grown. You’ve grown as well, no longer the gangly thirteen year old, who left crying. Yet, those peridot eyes of his immediately flash in recognition.
“Child of man…?”
Giving him a tentative smile, you greet him, “I’m back, Tsunotarou.”
He moves faster than you can blink. One second he’s standing in the middle of the mushroom circle, the next he’s right in front of you. He peers down at you, his hands hovering in front of him not sure if he can touch you. You wrap your arms around his middle and hug him, pressing your face into his chest.
You feel him stiffen for a moment before his arms wrap around you. He folds into your embrace, pressing his face into your shoulder. “You came back,” he mumbles in wonder.
Laughing, you pull away enough to look up at him. “Of course I came. I made a promise.”
“A dangerous thing to do with a fae,” he says, a teasing smile on his face. He gently pokes your forehead. The place where he would often press a kiss to as a blessing. “Will you tell me a story?”
Taking his hand, you lace your fingers with his as you lead him to a nearby tree. His hands are still cooler than yours. “Always. I have many new ones to tell you, Tsunotarou.”
He pauses as he stares down at you thoughtfully. Brows scrunching together, you call to him. “Tsunotarou?”
He seems to make up his mind as he squeezes your hand. “Malleus. My true name is Malleus Draconia.”
Your eyes widen as you suddenly feel the weight of knowing his true name. “...a-are you sure?”
Tsunotarou, no Malleus, chuckles. “Yes. I want you to use my real name.”
True names hold power, or so your gran told you. She would say if you ever learn the true name of a fae, you have power over them, but it works both ways, which is why you never give your name to a fae. She always stressed the importance of choosing your words carefully if you ever had to offer a name.
However, you don’t believe Malleus would ever use that power to hurt you or make you do anything against your will. It might be foolish in gran’s eyes, but you still trust him as deeply as you did as a child.
So you offer your true name to him and you feel something shift. The weight you felt when you first received his name lifts, and it feels as if something ties you two together. A bond. You aren’t sure, and Malleus doesn’t seem to know either. But it envelopes you in a warm, tingly feeling for a few moments. As you settle under the tree side by side, you lean against each other, hands still intertwined. It feels like you never really left.
“Once upon a time there was a fae and a human…”