Your Majesty

A butterfly fluttered through the forest, dancing through branches and leaves.

Two girls followed it behind, its blue light guiding them through the forest.

One of the two girls, Ab, followed behind the butterfly with abundant enthusiasm. She skips with a sense of joy and of adventure.

The second of the two girls was much slower. Anna leisurely walks behind the hopping girl at a measured pace. She never was one for adventure, and hiking was one she disliked.

As she was walking, she winced as a small twinge of pain pulsed in her feet and legs.

Just walking through this forest reawakened her dislike for the outside.

Especially when there's danger outside. Her strength sapped even more as she tried to look around to spot anything amiss amongst the foliage.

Anna couldn't hide the weariness from her face. Thankfully, she was behind the two. If it wasn't for Amor fluttering away and Abi following him, Anna would've sat under that tree until she woke up back into reality.

Even now she regrets following them, branches and shrubs prickling on her clothes and skin.

As the trudging girl sighed and drooped, the world around her turned into a shade of blue.

"Huh?"

Just as Anna was about to turn up, she felt something tugging her arm.

"Anna, Anna! Look at this!"

So Anna looked up, and she was greeted with a sight that she never thought she would see again.

Butterflies. Blue butterflies.

The butterflies are just like Amor.

Butterflies just like the ones her grandpa raised. With their wings glowing a dreamy blue, the massive group of butterflies fluttered through the leaves and branches above them, reminiscent of a stream of water.

Just like the torrent of raging waters, they all moved in one direction.

It was like Anna's dream was replaying in a video.

Anna didn't regret it anymore.

"Wow..." Abi whispered next to her. "What a pretty sight…"

Anna nodded in agreement.

Just as Anna was about to talk to her, Abi ran off.

"I can see Amor! Let's follow him!"

"How can you tell-nevermind."

It was obvious which butterfly Amor was. Amidst the river of butterflies, there was one that shined the brightest. The other butterflies paled in comparison in terms of brightness.

Abi began to once more follow Amor, who, along with the rest of the butterflies, didn't stop flying in one direction. Anna only shook her head, but she did follow after them under the river of butterflies.

'My legs and feet seemed to feel better now,' Anna thought as she looked up at the butterflies.

She felt safer than ever.

...

Time passed, and Anna didn't even bother to count as she tried to imprint the memory into her mind. Just as she was feeling better, a change happened.

They arrived at a small clearing. As soon as the butterflies made it to the clearing, they quickly separated, fluttering off into the trees in many different directions.

Within seconds, all of them disappeared.

Anna felt something bad was going to happen.

Only Amor stayed behind, fluttering and landing onto Anna's head. That made her feel a tad bit safer.

'Why did the butterflies lead us here?' she thought as she looked around at the small clearing. As she began squinting, she then noticed something.

Besides the flora and fauna that were common, something laid in the shadows of a tree, hidden by the tall grass and flowers.

It seemed to be a figure wearing a strange dress. Robes?

Anna looked at Abi, who also looked confused. Abi turned to Anna, and she talked to her through her confused expression.

Who is this woman?

Anna signaled to Abi to keep quiet and to stay, and she tiptoed towards the figure.

As she got closer, she realized something.

'Shouldn't I be running away?'

She looked at the figure in the distance. The mysterious figure seemed to be sleeping. After watching her for a while, curiosity got the better of her, and Anna stepped even closer.

One step…

Two steps…

Three steps…

Anna unconsciously held her breath as she tried to tip toe very slowly and quietly. Trying to dance around the dead leaves and branches on the ground, she felt sweat dripping from her head. It was a good thing she was experienced in these ways from her time in the city, trying to get to the kitchen from down the hall while her parents were sleeping.

Then, a branch cracked.

Anna almost screamed and almost yeeted herself into the air. She turned her head and glared back at Abi, who was bowing swiftly every second.

She turned back to the mysterious figure. The figure seemed to be motionless, unmoving as a statue. Gulping, Anna breathed shakily, and she tiptoed even closer. Each step brought her closer and closer to the figure hidden in the tall grass. After many steps, she was close enough to finally see the mysterious figure for who she really is.

From her point of view, Anna guessed this person seemed extraordinary.

The mysterious figure was a woman sitting against a tree, her eyes closed. If not for her stomaching moving softly up and down, Anna would've thought she was dead.

Looking around, the girl came into view a strange looking black colored staff lying on the ground next to her. With strange blue markings on it, it looked like a mix between a spear and a battle axe.

That wasn't what truly caught Anna's eyes.

It was her presence that scared her, and her sweat increased exponentially.

Even when the woman was asleep, she still radiated a kind of a pristine, cold aura around her. Anna wants to kneel and bow before her, apologizing for her transgressions.

'Wait, what did I do wrong?' she thought.

She was curious, and she wanted to see. She didn't want to wake this woman up from her nap. She didn't do anything wrong, right?

Also she was a kid. That's some bonus points.

Looking at her again, Anna actually thought that the woman was of royalty just based on her strange presence.

The woman had a natural air of pride, like that of someone with power. She wore a black dress with black sleeves, and had blue markings similar to her staff running down her dress. Two white cloths fell from her shoulders, all the way down to her feet,

As Anna examined her, she noticed the pale-skinned woman had long pale white-gray hair, both sides of her hair braided from the side to the back. The braid ended with a long ponytail. Then, Anna's eyes trailed to her slightly pointy ears.

'Slightly pointy...ears? Wait-!?'

A 𝘧𝘢𝘦?

Anna immediately tensed, and she slowly started tip toeing backwards.

Abi watched, confused, as Anna slowly made her way back. After reaching her, Anna grabbed her hands and started to tip-toeing away again. Abi looked confused, but she also followed Anna willingly, also tip-toeing.

It seemed she was also an expert in the art of tip-toeing.

If the blue words are to be trusted, then the fae are the complete opposite of trust.

Also, stranger danger.

Of course, it also said there are exceptions, but who cares about that?

While they were walking back, Abi whispered to Anna. It seemed the girl felt something was wrong.

"What's wrong, Anna? Is that woman alright-?"

"That's a 𝘧𝘢𝘦, Abi. Did you not ask the blue words about the living creatures that live in this realm?" Anna whispered back quickly.

The wheat-haired girl's naivety almost made her shake the poor girl's back and forth, but she held it in. She was also naive. If Anna did so, she would be proven a hypocrite.

After that, there were no more hushed whispers as they hurriedly tiptoed into the safety of the forest.

Finally, after a few tense moments, they arrived at the safety of the trees. As Anna sighed a sigh of relief something cracked far behind them.

Anna didn't hesitate to then break off into a sprint with Abi, but a wall of black with some blue mud rose out from the ground right in front of them. The two both moved back from the wall...and towards where the sleeping woman was.

Then, a burst of cold air erupted from behind them, and the world around the two girls became winter.

Their backs felt cold.

So, so cold.

With their backs drenched in sweat-no, they were already frozen due to the cold, the two turned around, and they saw the woman standing tall over the two.

With the topmost center of her staff glowing blue, the woman's cold gray eyes looked at the surroundings...until her eyes landed on Anna and Abi.

The woman's eyes never changed a single moment as she looked at the two bugs before her. With a thought, she raised her staff, pointing the tip at them.

The staff glowed a dim blue, and the air around them became heavy. The two girls held each other's hands tightly, shaking.

Trembling.

Anna desperately tried to think of any way she could get out.

'What do I do? What should I do? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘥𝘰?'

Escape? Not possible.

Plead? She can't even open her mouth.

Ditch Abi? That wasn't even a choice, and Anna felt ashamed to think of that.

'How could I think of such a thing?' she thought sadly.

If that is what she thinks as an option upon meeting such a life and death situation, why does she want friends then?

Why did she think of wanting genuine friendship if she's going to throw them away for survival?

So, Anna decided to quietly accept her fate. Holding the wheat-haired girl's trembling hand, Anna gulped loudly as she eyed the spear. The spear's glow didn't stop glowing brighter, and the air became heavier and heavier.

Then, the spear's glow fell dull. The woman raised her staff upward, the bottom of it touching the ground like before.

The two girls were immensely bewildered.

The woman's gaze on them never changed, and the two looked back at her with fear.

So, a moment of tense silence surrounded the three...

Anna knew she shouldn't initiate a conversation. She doesn't have the right to. As she was thinking that, the girl spoke up beside her. Anna tried to squeeze Abi's hands in a desperate manner in order to get her to stop, but the girl didn't seem to notice.

"Um hello? We found you sleeping there. If we bothered you, then we want to apologi-"

"I demand silence," the woman said, and the two felt the world weighing on them.

"Until I have finished my question, you shall both remain silent. Once I have finished, you will then answer," the gray haired woman finished, her voice as empty as Anna's pocket change.

They kept silent-no, Abi seemed to shut her mouth tightly, and the woman finally nodded her head,

"Now, answer me this. Why are huma-you two in this forest?"

Anna and Abi looked at each other, and then looked back at the woman blankly. Then, the two nodded quickly.

The gray haired woman didn't seem to notice as she continued.

"Humans are always ignorant, and so the fault is on mine to assume that you two would understand. Therefore, I will grant you the honor of addressing me as 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺."

The woman-no, 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺-closed her eyes, and she became quiet.

Then there was silence.

…that's it.

Anna and Abi could only look at each other with more confusion. Was she actually royalty, or was that her name?

"What-I mean, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺...how can you tell we're humans?" Abi asked.

Anna tugged at her hand quickly, but Abi didn't seem to notice at all.

Mother trucker this girl-!

'This girl doesn't have a shred of common sense! This is a fae!' Anna didn't know what to say or do anymore.

Even then, she just went along with the flow as usual. At least she didn't have to talk.

"Both of your presence and auras are weak-much weaker than even the weakest of fairies."

To Anna's surprise, the woman didn't seem to mind that Abi didn't answer her first question. Subsequently, she soon realized that it wasn't that the woman didn't mind, it was that she pardoned it.

She deigned herself to respond.

"Now then. My previous question. I shall pardon you for your previous error. However…"

The woman's eyes slightly opened, and Anna felt a gust of a cold air passing by her head.

"...you are warned. That shall be the last mistake you'll ever make."

There was no 'or else.' It was undeniably a threat.

The air grew colder, and Anna and Abi both shivered. Suddenly, Anna felt something on her head. Looking up, she saw the edge of a butterfly's wing. Amor, who was still on Anna's head, seemed to not even notice the intensity of the situation, and just fluttered occasionally.

'Wait, he was here the whole time?' Anna thought.

"Um..."

Abi hesitated, and Anna felt relief. Finally, the reality of the danger finally dawned upon this poor girl. Seeing this, Anna coughed and stepped forward. She first gripped Abi's hand in an attempt to comfort her.

Abbi smiled in thanks. Smiling to her, Anna looked up at the cold woman, her empty, yet imposing gaze killing any words that came up from her throat.

Opening and closing her mouth, Anna tried to speak.

No words.

That was until the woman's eyes opened even further, and Anna immediately felt words flowing through her mouth.

"We both woke up in this forest, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, and we don't know how we got here."

Then, Anna shut her mouth. The woman's eyes seemed to gaze deeper into Anna's eyes, and she trembled. She instinctively tried to moisten her dry lips.

Finally, after what seemed like decades, the cold air dissipated, and both the girls unconsciously heaved a sigh of relief.

"Both woke up you say...how peculiar..."

The woman's face didn't change at all, but her presence slightly changed. Still, she reverted back to her cold and imposing demeanor before the two girls caught a break.

"And how old are you hum-the both of you?"

"We're…we're both twelve years old, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺," Abi spoke up.

The woman then closed her eyes. She seemed as if she was thinking-her face didn't change, only her eyes closed-a little before she spoke again, her eyes opening slightly. This time it really surprised both of the girls.

"Very well, I shall anoint you both as a part of my retinue. Serve me well, and I shall reward you in turn," 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 said with a tone of finality, as if there could be no disagreement.

The gray haired woman said it with such decisiveness, the two girls couldn't find the heart to agree or disagree with her, as any words said might be a mistake.

Actually, they couldn't even open their mouths.

As 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 had said earlier, it would cost them dearly to make a mistake. The two girls nearly jumped up in fright when the woman spoke once more.

"Ah, yes, there was also something of vital importance that I've seemed to have forgotten..."

The two stared at her intently, awaiting her first orders. They both came to a silent agreement to just accept their fate without question. After all, they're two defenseless girls.

"You two, you are given permission to tell me your names. Remember, choose your words with care, otherwise, I will relieve you of your post as my retinue, and will be regarded as my enemy."

Anna blinked, and felt embarrassed. With all that has happened in a short period of time, it's not a surprise for both Abi and herself to have forgotten to introduce themselves. How could they, under the threat of 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺?

Perhaps that would be for the best, as she wouldn't know what 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 would prefer.

After a few seconds of hesitating, Anna stepped forward and bowed, just like when facing the elderly.

Who knew being polite would pay off here.

"You first? Good. I'll praise your bravery and recklessness," 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 said, nodding at her.

Anna then felt regret. She couldn't help but think that she was unfortunate enough to follow Amor and Abi here.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, this one's name is A-Anna."

Following Anna's example, Abi then took a tiny step forward, and copied Anna's greeting. Her bow was similar to Anna, and she spoke softly.

"𝘠-𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, this one's name is Abi."

The woman nodded in what seemed to be acceptance.

"I am the Que-no, that doesn't matter anymore. I am the Witch-yes, the Witch. I am the Witch known as Islafae, but that also doesn't matter. Regardless, you will both continue calling me 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺. Do you understand?" The Witch named Islafae said firmly.

""Yes 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺,"" the two girls said simultaneously, and bowed almost at the same time.

'So she does have a name,' Anna thought as her face faced the ground. She could only think for a short moment because Islafae slowly approached them with a gait of refined grace.

As she got closer, Anna immediately noticed how tall she was. Standing over them by at least eleven inches, she looked down on them with an empty look.

"Lead me back to where you both woke up from."

Anna nodded, quickly bowing, and obeyed. Abi also did the same, quickling bowing.

With Abi, they both started trailing back to where they woke up from, with Islafae following their every step.

...

𝘛𝘢𝘱...

𝘊𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩...

𝘛𝘢𝘱...

Their journey back from the clearing, although silent and peaceful, was the complete opposite for the two girls.

Anna was tense, holding Abi's hand as she walked forward back to the hill where they woke up. Abi was also the same, gripping her hands tightly.

While they were walking, Islafae suddenly spoke up, and the two nearly jumped into the air.

"Child with the thing on your hair."

""Yes,𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺?""

"The one with the dream butterfly on her head."

"Oh-I mean yes 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺!"

Although Anna's face looked calm as she turned around, internally she was freaking out. She felt she was getting singled out.

"Yes 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺!" Anna squeaked out, but when she saw Islafae's unamused look, she coughed and tried to respond normally.

"Yes,𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺?"'

"How did that blue butterfly come to be your companion?"

"...eh?"

Anna blinked, and her brain short-circuited, making her hesitate. However, when she saw 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafe's staff slightly glowing, she hurriedly answered.

"I-I raised him since he hatched from an egg, and all the way until he became a butterfly. Then somehow I became bonded with him."

"...I see."

"..."

'What do you see?' Anna thought, wanting to say that out loud, but she couldn't. No, not couldn't

Wouldn't.

She can never do that, unless she wanted a death wish. She might even accidently get Abi involved as well.

The poor girl looked to be trembling a lot.

Then, 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, the Witch Islafae stopped with her questions, and Anna took it as a sign for her to continue walking.

So they resumed walking. As they were walking, Anna just realized that 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae didn't call her by name.

It was a strange feeling, but she didn't mind it. In fact, it shows her attitude towards humans.

'Since she's a fae, she probably looks down on us humans...'

Anna nodded to herself internally.

'At least she hasn't hurt us.'

Yet.

'When I imagined a fae, I thought they would look beautiful and seem extremely pure of heart, yet bloodthirsty at the same time. 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafe however...'

Anna almost wanted to sneak a peek to look behind at her.

Common sense says no.

Although Islafae was beautiful, it was leaned towards one of coldness and pride, like a beautiful, polished marble statue. Never changing, never fading. There was no sense of goodness or trickery when one looked at her face. It was just…blank and emotionless. The woman-'Her Majesty' only openly shows her attitude without a guise or a facade.

'No wait, that's probably what she wants me to think!' Anna immediately thought, but she hesitantly thought of another theory. 'But what if it isn't?'

Her thoughts clashed, and she felt conflicted more than ever. Perhaps even more than the festival dilemma.

'But...what if...maybe she's different from the other fae?'

As she pondered, she came to a different realization. An answer to all her problems.

Literally.

'Can't I just ask the blue words about her?'

Anna felt relieved, as if a warm ray of sunshine shined upon her.

She had reached enlightenment.

So the girl mentally asked a question about what 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae thinks about humans, expecting to get an answer back.

===============================

...

===============================

Anna's face became blank at the sight.

Even the blue words can't answer that question? How useless can it be?

'Hmmm...since I can't answer it, it probably means that 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 is an anomaly. So that means she must be different from the fae...!'

Anna nodded to herself, wholeheartedly believing she solved a mystery. Abi on the other hand gave her a strange look, but nonetheless remained quiet.

𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, the Witch Islafae didn't seem to care at all.

...

They finally left the forest, and arrived at the sight of a sea of wheat, with a large tree at the center of a hill, akin to an island.

The same place where the two girls woke up.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, this is the place where we woke up," Anna said from besides Abi, who was quiet.

'Wait, why am I the speaker again?' Anna thought tiredly.

Anyways, she didn't really know why Islafae wanted them to guide her here, but here they are.

𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae didn't seem to hear her, and instead walked up to the tree. Slowly walking through the sea of wheat, she seemed to not notice anything else. As if entranced, the woman only looked at the tree. Emerging from the golden sea, she walked up the hill.

The two girl's watched as 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae went farther and farther away from them. Anna looked at Abi, who looked at her. Their eyes talked silently.

'Do we follow after 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺?' Anna silently asked her with her eyes.

'I don't know. Do you want to follow after 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺?' Abi responded with her eyes.

'I don't know. How about you? Do you want to follow after 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺?'

'I don't know.'

As they were talking with their silently, they didn't notice 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae was already before the tree. Just as the two girls noticed, they saw her raising her right hand-her left holding her staff-and paused.

After a few seconds of intense waiting, with Abi and Anna holding their breath and staring intensely at whatever she would do, 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae finally put her hand against the trunk of the tree.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Nothing seemed to happen...

The gray haired woman only closed her eyes. After moments of waiting, she opened them. Then, 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae turned to look at Anna.

Or rather, something on her head.

"I come to you for guidance. As your supplicant. I have lost my purpose. Tell me...what is my purpose now?"