Swear Not By The Wings

Earlier today, Elio informed me that we would be meeting to discuss specific matters. The nerves have been eating me up since! What will he say? Am I being punished? Killed? I have no time to dwell on these thoughts because Elio nearly breaks my door down.

"You're with me, " he says and turns on his heel.

I follow closely behind him with no questions. The fairy leads me to a place I've never been to before. It's wonderful and secluded. It's also, the perfect place to get away with murder. I guess this is where it ends.

"You think I'm going to kill you?" Right, mind reader. Eli rolls his eyes when I nod shyly.

"You truly are stupid. I'm here to discuss the rules.

Like any household, we have rules here," he says.

I listen carefully to his soothing voice. The rules are clear, but not the easiest to follow.

For example, rule number one says that I can't look a fae in the eye. It's considered a challenge. Unfortunately for me, Elio has the eyes of a silver ocean that I can't look away from. What am I saying?

Rule number two states that I cannot provoke any of the woodland creatures. This rule is referring to unicorns, dragons, amaroks, griffins, and other animals. This should be an easy law to follow since I'm afraid of most animals.

Rule number three, never disrespect a fae blah blah. Obviously. I've learned my lesson the first time!

Rule number four states that I cannot leave my cottage at night. Cue the questions.

"What if I need to clear my head?" I ask.

"Open a window," Elio responds.

"What if I get bored?"

"Haven't I given you enough books?"

"I've read them all," Elio sighs and looks at me.

"Don't leave your room at night." He argues in a dangerously low voice. I cower under his gaze and look to my feet. I can't forget about rule number one!

"I have a feeling you're going to be terrible at following this instruction as you love talking," Elio says in a disgusted tone.

"Never bother a working fae," he finishes.

"Hey, I don't talk that much!" I defend myself. Elio raises an eyebrow at me. Rule number three, never disrespect a fae!

"Sorry," I apologize. The fairy nods his head.

"Last and most important rule. Don't go traveling the woodland by yourself."

"May I ask why not?"

"Why don't you ask the monsters that would love a human girl as their snack?" Elio suggests. Is he bluffing? I stare off into the endless sea of trees. Elio looks at me.

"Arrietty, if you're going to break a rule, please don't let it be that one, " he sounds almost scared for me.

I assure him with a nod. I've never heard Elio's voice get so soft before. So, he's probably not bluffing.

After the talk, Elio and I return back to where the other fairies are located. They all look at us suspiciously except for Ellowyn who has a smirk on her face. Elio leaves me to go talk to his friend, Arden.

"What did you two chat about?" I hear Ellowyn's angelic voice say from behind me.

"I don't know what it looked like, but he was just explaining to me some rules," I confirm. I notice my eyes fixed on Ellowyn's blue ones and I avert my stare downwards.

"What are you doing?" She laughs. My neck is almost at a perfect ninety-degree angle.

"I don't want a challenge!" I say loudly. The other fairies stop their work and glare at me.

Oops, I have disturbed their labor!

Ever since my chat with Elio, I've been busting the rules by accident. Something tells me I would've been better off not knowing the rules at all!

I got into a wrestling match with Arden because I looked into his eyes for too long, unknowingly. It's not my fault he has beautiful forest-green eyes! Luckily for me, Arden didn't attack me badly. In fact, he was very playful and careful not to hurt me. After the scuffle, he patted me on the back. Friends?

The next rule I broke was provoking a woodland creature. Stupidly, I tried to conquer my fear of animals. I figured that a unicorn wouldn't be a bad place to start. I was doing so well until the horse walked closer and I threw an acorn at its head. I couldn't help it! I thought it was going to eat me! Freya was eating popcorn to the whole thing and didn't even intervene when the creature tried to stab me! Twice.

Even though I've broken multiple rules, the faeries didn't mind. In fact, they found it funny. A lot of fairies were actually willing to talk to me nicely now! Sometimes. Unlike the others, Elio was not amused by me.

I find this out when he walks up to me with a face red with anger. He roughly grabs me by my arm and pulls me into a random cottage. The room I am in is decorated with snowflakes and all types of winter-related things. I am in Elio's room! The fairy glares down at me while I innocently look around. Without a threat, the fae throws me up against the wall. What is wrong with him?

"Do you think this is leisure? I gave you simple rules and you've already broken most!" The winter fairy seethes into my face. I flinch at his words. His close proximity and unwavering eyes has me shaking nervously.

"I'm sorry," I respond truthfully. I did feel bad for not being able to follow the rules. I am a very clumsy and forgetful person. Standards and I don't really go along that well. One could even call me a walking disaster! Elio must not be in a forgiving mood because he punches the wall above my head causing me to yelp in fright.

"Stupid girl! I should feed you to the wolves," I gasp at his statement. The wolves he is referring to are the Amoraks. These monsters prey on innocent victims for sport. Not to mention that they're ten times stronger and faster than your regular wolf! My horror quickly turns to bitterness. I look Elio square in his eyes and say,

"If you hate me so much, why are you keeping me here? That sounds pretty stupid to me."

"You've insulted our existence! You brought yourself here!" Elio yells.

"It was just an argument with my mother! I do believe in fairies, I was just upset!" I retaliate.

"Your pendant says otherwise," Elio speaks quieter, leaving no room for argument. Can't disagree to that.

My pendant is still below half full.

The fairy's face moves closer to mine. Trying to back away, I smack my head against the wall behind me. Elio watches me with amused eyes.

"You fairies are so full of yourselves!" I shout. Elio just blinks at me.

"And you're selfish," he yawns back. How dare he!

"Selfish? You took everything away from me just because-" I take a second to catch my breath,

"you're afraid I'll be the reason your kind goes extinct! I even missed my first date because of you!" I shoot. Elio's face was emotionless until my last statement.

For an unknown reason, the mention of Landon bothers the fairy immensely. Before I can take back the comment, the fae boy throws me over his shoulder.

"Where are you taking me?" I yell while punching his back. Elio ignores my punches and continues walking. I see that we are now back at the fairy-working grounds. I catch a glimpse of Ellowyn who's giving me a worried glance. Should I be worried too?

Abruptly, I'm thrown onto the floor. When I lift my head, my jaw drops. Standing above me are the warrior fairies. They grin at me wickedly.

It is evident that these fairies, in particular, couldn't wait to get their hands on me and not in a good way! Ever since I got here, I have sensed their desire to hurt me. I wasn't sure what they were planning and I wasn't too excited to find out. I look to Elio for help.

"Elio, please! I didn't mean it!" I panic.

"Aw, you don't mean a lot of things, little human," he says with no emotion.

"You're going to let them hurt me?"

"Arrietty, you need to learn," Elio responds to me in a mockingly sweet voice.

"I hate you," I whisper. Elio locks eyes with me. We stare at each other for a couple of moments before he breaks the staring contest.

"Teach her something memorable," He says before leaving me in the hands of the warriors.

I begin to notice crowds of fairies gathering around us, hooping and hollering. I didn't know what to predict, but I certainly didn't think it would be this bad!

The warrior fairies throw me around like a rag doll, while the others watch in excitement. They were the dogs and I was their chew toy. I try to suppress myself from crying. I didn't want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

I find myself gripping at the floor, doing everything I can to keep them from slamming me once more. I don't know how much further damage my body can take. I'm pretty small and scrawny, even. Have fairies ever been taught to pick on somebody their own size? I guess not. After minutes of pure torture, I am unable to stand and left with sufferings all over.

When it is done Ellowyn, Freya, and Arden are by my side. I foresaw kindness from Elle, but not the other two. Freya and Arden are close friends of Elio, so I can't comprehend them helping me. The fairies look at me with sympathy and pity. By the time I am brought back to my cottage, tears are stained on my face.

I take a short nap but wake up a little while later to the sound of arguing. I look out of my window to see Elio and Arden having a heated discussion. I can't hear what they are saying, but something tells me that I am the topic of discussion.

I quickly move to close my sheer curtains when Elio's cold eyes find mine through the window. He watches every single action. I stand still and listen when Arden shouts loudly,

"I thought you said that you'll keep her safe when she arrives here! She could barely stand earlier, Elio!" I thought I saw a flash of remorse pass Elio's uniquely colored eyes, but I'm probably wrong.

Did Elio vow to keep me safe before I came here? If he did, he's doing a lousy job at it. I would laugh if my ribs didn't hurt so much.

I finally find the strength to close the curtains shut.

Soon, Elio and Arden leave the outside of my cottage. I take this as my opportunity to go on a much-needed walk! A while ago I couldn't stand, but my short nap did me some justice. I just need to be thorough and take baby steps.

Technically, I am breaking two rules. Leaving the cottage at night is prohibited and so is exploring the woodland by myself. My brain is too fried to think about any possible consequences and I take off on my way.

Monstrous growls echo the further I go into the forest. My steps are shaky due to pain and the darkness. I am not too fond of the nighttime.

Twigs and leaves crunch under my feet as I walk.

Soon, the initial fear vanishes, and I find peace being away from the fairies.

I close my eyes and imagine that I am on my way home from school. The only difference is that this walk is much longer than any walk from school I've ever had. My legs get worn out and I sit down by a tree.

Several thoughts scurry around my mind and soon I become consumed. Memories with my friends replay in my head like shopping with Linden, alien-hunting with Poppy, and watching cartoons with Jane. Tears sting my eyes when my recollection falls on the face of my mother.

Just a couple of days ago we were baking a strawberry cake, dancing, and making a mess in the kitchen. My heart aches severely. It's crazy how life can change so drastically in one day. I wrap my hands around my heart-shaped pendant.

"Mom, I miss you" I weep to myself. I hear a rustling from behind me and jump to my feet.

"Arrietty?" It's Elio. I knew that I was possibly going to get scolded for wandering off by myself as it is dangerous. Much to my shock, the fairy doesn't look angry that I am breaking the one rule he begged me not to break.

Instead, his face shows regret. This still isn't enough to ease my pain. He had me tortured by the warrior faeries and most importantly, took me away from my mom. I look at him through blurred vision. The tears won't stop. Elio takes careful steps towards me, prompting me to back away from him in fear. The winter fae appears to be bothered by this and moves closer.

"Arrietty, I'm not going to hurt you," he says.

I stumble over my feet while trying to get away from him. Shooting pain travels up my legs when I fall to the woodland floor. I scream in discomfort, but continue to back away from the fairy.

"Arrietty, stop moving! You're hurt!" He exclaims gently.

"Leave me alone!" I yelp.

"Arrietty-"

"Get away from me!"

"I'm sorry-"

"No, don't come closer! I hate you!"

"Arrietty Spring! Stop it!" Elio suddenly shouts. I go silent when I notice that the winter fae is crouched down, right in front of me. He's staring at me with desperate eyes.

The fairy then grabs me by the shoulders and pulls me into his arms. I try to push him away, but he only holds me tighter. Too weak to fight, I give up and allow him to hug me. He rubs my back soothingly as

I sob violently into his shoulder.

I need someone.

Anyone.

"Sh. You're okay, Arrietty," he whispers into my ear. I feel the fairy tighten his grip around me. I hug him back. A minute or two goes by when Elio scoops me up into his chest and flies us back to my cottage.

He tenderly lays me down on the bed and tucks me into the covers. I want him to stay. I don't want to feel lonely in this world anymore. He knows this as he can read my mind.

I guess it is too much to wish for because the fae boy turns around and leaves without looking back.

In between my sniffles, I feel a pull on my pendant and look down. I stare at the jewelry in awe as I watch more dust begin to fill the heart. It isn't much, but it's progress.

Mom, I'm on my way.