Anaie's Kingdom

A young faerie lady marched down the hallway, scaning the sterile white walls on each side of her. She stopped at a blue door and opened it. She surveyed the throne with the amethyst jewels, and her father, the king, wearing a gold crown sitting on it.

Her father smiled and folded his arms. "Anaie, it's about time you showed up. You know a princess should always be on time. Torbon will be here soon, and you need to be with him since you are betrothed to him."

Princess Anaie placed her pink hand on her curvy hip as she faced him. "No, Father. I won't marry him. He's a cruel faerie who only cares about power!"

She paced around the room observing the dull gray walls; walking and then stomping in a circle. After that, she faced her father.

The King pointed his long, dark orange finger and faced her with his long, unkempt beard and black, shabby robe."Yes, you will. It's time for you to get married and more importantly to someone suitable. Torbon's the faerie for you and this kingdom!"

Her violet eyes turned red. "Never! Torbon pollutes the land and has killed many faeries. How could you want me to marry someone like him?"

He stared at her with his amber eyes while he slouched in his red throne. "Torbon has power. This kingdom needs the power he has. He can protect it from others who want to overthrow us. You know he has an alliance with Cydia and Lucifer. If he strengthens his portal to the Unseelie Court, Torbon will form one with Mabon. He'll bring the sisters together, and they'll take over everything in their path. He'll only protect us if you marry him."

Princess Anaie pointed her slender finger at him. "The other faeries will band together to them if you'll stop your association with them."

He huffed and folded his arms. "The faeries aren't strong enough to stop Torbon if he brings the sisters together."

She gestured at him. "We can seek help from the Seelie Court."

He pounded his fist on the arms of the throne. "No, you know how I feel about dealing with Queen Morganna. My mind's made up. You'll marry Torbon."

"No, I won't!" Fluttering her silky blue wings, she flew out of the throne room.

She glided into a long dark hallway. Pictures of her mother, Queen Danie, hung on the walls. Anaie frowned as she stared at the paintings. I wish I could have known her. I hate that she died twelve weeks before I was born. I wonder if father would be different if she would have lived.

After lingering for a moment, she soared to the end of the hallway and through the door. Anaie decided to go to the faerie meadow where Torbon and the humans had not yet put what they call industry, those big buildings where business was conducted to make money. Torbon and her father didn't know about the meadow which was untouched by all of that.

Maybe I should stay there until I can figure out a way to get out of marrying Torbon.

Anaie flew passed a mix of steel buildings and quaint cottages on her way to the meadow. After she passed the village, she observed trees and flowers.

When she reached the meadow, she observed a man sitting by a lake. Has to be human.  Doesn't have an aura, nice looking though.

He drank the water from the lake while talking to the chameleon faeries, reptile faeries that were covered in green and purple scales.

Are they giving him the water to kill him?

As she surveyed the man and the faeries, a soft hand touched her on the shoulder. Frightened, she turned around to see who had touched her.

"It's only me, Anaie. Have you come here to escape too?" Faerie Godmother glanced at Anaie with her delicate pink eyes.

"Yes, I can't stand the thought of marrying Torbon." The princess gave her a hug.

"Did anyone see you come here?" A breeze blew through her wavy, light purple hair that framed her angelic, but worn face.

"I don't think so."

Faerie Godmother smiled."Good, have you seen our visitor?"

"Yes, just now. Are the chameleons planning on killing him?"

"No, he has been here for three days now. They have accepted him. He sought refuge from Torbon and has refused to do the work Torbon wanted him to do."

"Have you revealed yourself to him?"

"No, not yet. I've been watching him to make sure it would be safe to do so. I think we should both speak to him."

"Do you really?"

"Yes, I was only waiting for you to come to the meadow anyway. I knew you would be here soon."

The women flew toward the lake. The princess stared at the young man as he glanced up. I better let Faerie Godmother do all of the talking.

"Hello. You're the first human to ever drink from this lake and survive. I'm Faerie Godmother, protector of the meadow. The chameleon faerie, whom you've met already, help guard things when I'm away. I would like to introduce you to Princess Anaie."

He glanced at them with his warm brown eyes. "Please to meet you both. Glad I found this place. Torbon wanted to kill me because I wouldn't destroy homes for him to build skyscrapers. The name's Timothy."

Faerie Godmother raised an eyebrow. "Was Torbon the only one in charge of destroying our land?"

"No, a lady name Cydia and her husband, Lucifer. They come from Deacon, Mississippi. I lived there, came from Georgia though. Was on my way to Oxford, Mississippi to go to college and got lost. Ended up as a slave in Deacon and put to work on the construction crew."

Princess Anaie stared at him as she eyed him from head to toe. "Is Torbon the head of this or is the couple you spoke of?"

"Cydia and Lucifer are. Torbon's just a yes man."

"How long have you been a slave?" asked Faerie Godmother.

"Four years."

A chameleon faerie slid up to Faerie Godmother. "I've heard screams in the wind. There may be trouble in the village."

"I have to go and see if there are other faerie I can help. I'm sure the two of you can keep one another company," said Faerie Godmother.

Anaie stared wide-eyed at her. "I guess so." Why is she leaving me alone with a human? With someone I don't know even though he seems nice.

Faerie Godmother flew away. "I'll see the two of you later."

Timothy turned to Princess Anaie. "You seem uncomfortable around me."

She gazed at the way the sun shone on his ebony hair. "I don't trust humans in general. They've helped Torbon decimate my kingdom."

He glanced at her. "I hate seeing the destruction of your kingdom and such a pure land become polluted like the Earth Realm."

Anaie surveyed his green shirt, brown jeans, and boots. "I want to believe you. I've felt so alone for the past year, since Faerie Godmother was banished. Unfortunately, my father has arranged for me to marry Torbon."

Timothy gasped and stared at her."Your father wants you to marry that troll?"

She hung her head. "Yes, ever since Torbon came to our kingdom from the Unseelie Court five years ago, my father and I became estranged. I don't even think he cares or loves me anymore."

He touched her shoulder. "I'm sure he still loves you. Sometimes parents get off track when it comes to their kids. Often thought that about my parents too."

She stepped away. "Not my father, he loves no one. I'd rather not talk about him right now."

Timothy shifted from side to side. "Would you show me around the meadow? Haven't had a chance to explore the place. Was afraid I might get lost."

She shrugged. "I guess it would be alright if I showed you around."

He took her by the hand. Should I let this happen? I'd rather hold this hand than Torbon's. It's not so bad, kind of nice really. As they strolled further into the meadow, she felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach. I must not let myself get too friendly with a human just because he doesn't want to kill me. I can't help it though. I wonder if he feels the same way. I've got a tingling sensation inside. Why do I have this feeling? She inspected his rugged good looks such as his squared jaw and chin. I think Timothy's staring at me too. I want him to touch me the way Torbon has tried to.

Anaie led him through the lush violet meadow as the purple moon rose in the east. She introduced him to many of the chameleon faeries and watched how he reacted to the others. He seems so at ease here to be a human.

As she stood by the edge of the lake, a huge blue fish grabbed Timothy by his arm and pulled him under. Anaie dove into the green water and kicked through the bluish-green algae that tickled her legs as she swam in their direction.

When she came up for air, Anaie shouted, "Warple, let Timothy go!"

Timothy floated up to the surface with his arm still in Warple's mouth. Anaie swam over to them.

"He's a good human, let him go." Anaie glared at the fish.

Warple let Timothy go as Anaie grabbed his arm to swim back to land. As she swam, Anaie hit her head on a boulder in the shallow part of the lake. Timothy begun to cough.

"Owwww!" She touched her head feeling a little blood from the side of her forehead.

"I'll get you out of the water." Timothy put his arm around her to help her out of the lake.

Anaie placed her palm on the wound, and the blood along with the scratches disappeared.

"What was that, and why did it pull me under like that?"

"He's a Warmpal. They're faerie fish. Warple's my pet and used to live in the palace moat until he attacked Torbon. He must have thought that you were trying to hurt me."

Timothy pointed to the large bite mark."He's got sharp teeth."

Anaie placed her hand on the wound. A white beam came out of her hand and landed on the wound. "I can only heal small injuries and have to leave the major ones to Faerie Godmother." She waved her hand once more over the wound.

Timothy turned to her. "Is there somewhere we can stop to rest?"

She pointed to the spot below. "We can stop here for the night."

He nodded. "Good. Need the rest."

She waved her hand, and a big crimson blanket appeared along with matching pillows. She laid down on her side. He did the same facing her.

She placed her hand between the two pillows. "I've never been with anyone before. Torbon has tried touching me, but I always flew away."

He intertwined her fingers with his. "Only been with my high school sweetheart, supposed to meet her in Oxford, Mississippi, but didn't make it. She probably thinks I'm dead by now."

She pulled away and sat up. Should I be doing this? I don't know him, but I like him.

Timothy touched Anaie's back. She turned her head and smiled at him as he laid down on the blanket. Anaie laid down beside him.

He kissed her on her soft lips. She ran her fingers through his hair and kissed him back. Their kisses became longer and more passionate.

As the night passed, they made love under the light of the bright cherry stars and the big amethyst moon. When morning crept over the horizon, they were in each others arms. Princess Anaie woke up as the silver sun shone upon her.

She tiptoed over to the lake to get a drink of water as she clutched her stomach and vomited. Why do I feel like this? I haven't eaten anything that would make me sick. As she crept along, Faerie Godmother flew toward her.

"It's not a good morning. I'm feeling nauseous."

"How close did you get to our visitor while I was away?"

She smiled. "Very close."

Faerie Godmother motioned for Anaie to come closer to her."Come here, for a minute."

Anaie walked over to her. Faerie Godmother waved her hand over Anaie's stomach.

"You're with wee one, my dear." Faerie Godmother finished waving her hand over Princess Anaie's stomach.

"Are you sure? You can't be serious. You just can't! We were only together once, and it was my first time."

Faerie Godmother put her arm around her. "It only takes one time, sweetheart. I know you know so little about these things, growing up without a mother to talk to. I was going to have this talk with you before you got married. I wasn't expecting the act of pleasure and being with wee one to come before marriage. I certainly didn't think it would take place with a human, but I'm glad you were with him instead of Torbon."

Anaie paced around in circles. "What will my father do when he finds out? Will he still make me marry Torbon? This just can't be happening!"

"I don't know, but I do know he's looking for you. The faeries in the village told me." Faerie Godmother pointed over Anaie's shoulder. "Here comes Timothy. You're going to have to tell him about this. I know you're nervous, so I'll help explain things."

He glanced at Princess Anaie."Been looking for you, Anaie. Good morning, Faerie Godmother."

She laced her fingers together and shifted her feet. "I need to tell you something. It's very important that I tell you right away."

"What is it? Has your father and Torbon found out about this place?"

She shook from being nervous. "No, that's not it."

"What is it then?"

"I'm with wee one!"

"You mean a baby?"

She placed her hand on Anaie's shoulder. "Yes, you see faerie females are different from Earth Realm ones. Faerie females know they're pregnant overnight and have their wee ones in twelve weeks instead of nine months."

Anaie stood still while Timothy gasped. What am I to do? Was a part of him happy to know that he would be a father? What will Father and Torbon do to my unborn child?

All of a sudden, a stamped of footsteps and screams flooded the meadow.

Faerie Godmother fluttered her wings. "Faeries are being killed! Torbon has found the meadow. Anaie, gather all the faeries you can and go deep into the meadow. Timothy and I will unite the chameleon faeries!"

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They went their separate ways. Faerie Godmother and Timothy gathered the chameleon faeries. Before they could act, Torbon and his human workers were only yards away from them.

Torbon, a huge, black hairy troll, shot out beams of black lasers that burned the faeries as they ran. His men were armed with onyx bows that had red arrows dipped in a poison called faeriebane.

Torbon shook his fist. "Where's Princess Anaie?"

Timothy shook his finger at him."Somewhere you'll never find her!"

Torbon's eyes widened. "How do you know how her?"

Faerie Godmother turned to Timothy. "Don't answer his questions!"

The chameleon faeries jumped in front of Faerie Godmother and Timothy.

One of them shouted, "Find the Princess. We'll fight them as long as we can!"

Faerie Godmother grabbed Timothy by the hand and flew away. As they jetted, the chameleon faeries jumped on the human soldiers and spat orange venom on them causing them to melt.

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When they got to the Princess and the other faeries, they observed Torbon coming from the west, and the King coming from the east.

Faerie Godmother flew to her side. "The chameleon faeries must have killed the humans. I only see Torbon and your father. You need to hide, Anaie!"

Anaie clenched her fist. "No, I have to take a stand. I have to tell my father I'm with wee one. He'll have to understand."

Timothy stood in front of her. "I'll be with her and won't let anyone hurt her!"

Her father flew to them with his transparent orange wings. "Anaie, what are you doing hiding out with refugees? They're even lower than commoners!"

Torbon burned the faeries with the black lasers that came from his fingers.
"We've found you. You'll come with us!"

Faerie Godmother and Princess Anaie deflected the lasers with purple lightning bolts that came out of the palms of their hands, using their wrists. The bolts would just pass them by since Torbon and the King were immune to their own lasers. Torbon shot a black beam toward Anaie. When he shot the beam from his finger, Timothy ran in front of it to protect her. The arrow pierced Timothy's chest. He fell to the ground as the blood gushed from it. Anaie ran to where he laid. Timothy gasped for breath as she placed his head in her lap. His eyes bulged out as he took his last breath.

Princess Anaie screamed and cried when she saw the father of her unborn child, lying on the ground void of life.

Tears flowed down Anaie's face. "You murderer!"

Faerie Godmother flew to Timothy body. She waved a blue mist that came out of her palms several times over his body trying to heal him. It didn't work. The laser Torbon shot Timothy with proved to be fatal to humans, not even her magic could heal him.

Princess Anaie jabbed her finger at Torbon. "You can't have me. I'm with wee one. It's Timothy's!"

The king waved his arms in the air. "You'll still marry Torbon, after an abortion's performed. A half human wee one won't be allowed to live in my kingdom!"

She shot random purple lightning bolts out of the palms of her hands. "I won't let you!"

"Stop, Anaie! Your fluid's breaking. It's much too soon!" Faerie Godmother shouted.

Purple water trickled from between her legs. The King zapped Anaie on the shoulder with an orange beam from his fingers. Anaie shot purple lightning bolts from her palms that pierced both her father and Torbon in the head. They fell to the ground as her father's blue blood and Torbon's orange blood flowed all over their bodies.

Princess Anaie fell to the ground and went into labor. Faerie Godmother tried to stop it with her blue mist, but Anaie was too far into it.

A chameleon faerie slithered up to them. "I can put the wee one in a silkening sac for the entire term. It will be able to develop properly. I'll protect the sac myself."

She gave screams and moans of pain as she gave birth. After the wee one was born, the chameleon faerie opened its mouth, releasing white silk around the preemie wee one, forming a sac.

The princess lifted her head. "Has that ever been done before?"

"Yes, you were placed in a silkening sac for the entire term before you were born," said the chameleon.

Faerie Godmother helped Anaie to her feet. "I have to take you back to the castle. The wee one will be safe with them. After twelve weeks, you'll have a son or daughter to love for the rest of your life."

Princess Anaie and Faerie Godmother ambled to the castle. Anaie reflected on the day's events. I've lost my father and the only man I've ever had feelings for in one day. What will happen to me now? I'm only seventeen and will be a single mother in only three months.