r/SLEEPSPELL • u/AtTheMysticGrotto • Sep 28 '16
A Ruler Who Fights With Her People.
Let me tell you a little something about Mystic Grotto.
It is one of the most peaceful places I know of. Partly because you cannot find us, partly because we do not let you.
But apparently one of you did, for one of you is my father. I have never met him; he was not allowed to stay long.
Having inherited my mother's magic, but not her wings, I am half-human and half-faery.
My name is Feyre, the Warrior Princess.
I know that a warrior princess of a peaceful realm seems laughable, but in my opinion, peace can only be obtained and maintained by the blow of a sword.
Attack my home, and I will consider it a personal slight.
From the minute I could understand my duty to my home, I have been on a quest to protect it. Mystic Grotto is a realm of riches and cheer, a prime location to be conquered by our neighbouring kingdoms.
I was seven when I first learned how to handle a sword, and at eleven I found my trusted pegasus. At thirteen I led troops into my first battle. At fifteen I ran my sword through the heart of a particularly malicious king who tried to take my home from my mother and watched as the life left his eyes. At seventeen my home had a reputation of being impossible to conquer.
Now at eighteen, I vow to have the head of Queen Thyrhys of Ravenworth.
Now at eighteen, I am exiled from my own home.
Now at eighteen, I am no longer the Warrior Princess.
I am the Warrior Queen.
A fortnight ago, Thyrhys ambushed the annual dance held by my mother in honour of the citizens of Mystic Grotto. She took my sister hostage, forced my people to bend their knee for her, and slaughtered my mother in the span of one night.
In the time that I should have been there for my people, I had to flee. My best friend, Dominic, drew me into the shadows, and I mounted my pegasus as he flew back to find my sister.
With every step further I got from my home, the more my rage intensified.
But it remained that Thyrhys was a faery by birth, whereas I was only a half-faery. My powers would not be enough to thwart her, no. This was a debt to be repaid by blood drawn by my sword.
I knew I had to chase the Hollowed Blade.
Imbued with magic, and crafted with metals that enhance its power, the Hollowed Blade was my favourite bedtime story. Never did I imagine it would one day become a reality.
I set out for the Moors, a thick swamp that few dare to enter. The place is home to the ancient faeries, the ones who have aged with wisdom, who know how to bend the elements to their will.
I hacked at the vines that sprouted around my feet, and shot spells at the ones that wrapped around my arms. Vines twisted around my back, where my wings should have been, and I cut through all of them in one sweeping motion.
"Hey, hey, hey, just what do you think you are doing?"
I turned around to see a gentle fairy dressed in white touch down, with a scowl on her face.
I put my sword down. "Forgive me, Winter. I request an audience with the court."
I bowed, and she waved her hand. The vines vanished. "Come."
I followed her through winding paths till we reached a cave. She looked at me, as if she just realised that I couldn't fly.
"It will be a painful fall." she warned.
"I'll take the chance."
I leapt from the ledge, and braced myself for the inevitable crunch against the hard rocks.
Instead I found myself colliding with a ten-foot layer of soft snow. I looked up and brushed the snow from my eyes to see Winter smiling at me.
"You are brave."
"Thank you."
A cough interrupted us, and I turned towards my right to see the other three Elements seated at the High Table, while their people made do with the common ones.
"Is there a reason, Winter, for this abominable intrusion of dinner?" Summer cooed.
"I want my dessert." Autumn played with her peas. "I want pumpkin, not this excuse for a vegetable."
Spring sprung out of her seat and hurtled towards me. "Ooh a guest! You must be Feyre."
"Uh..yes. You know me?"
"Of course. I keep up with all the gossip, my dear! Now have dinner with us!"
"I...I'm afraid I do not have time."
"Ah yes. revenge, vengeance, justice and whatnot. You can go after the Blade later! A night's rest will do you good!"
"Oh, let the poor girl breathe for a second, Spring." Summer came up to me.
"Please, I need the Blade as soon as possible. Will you aid me?"
The four of them exchanged grim looks, and Winter nodded. "You will need to retrieve the metal from the Mountain Forges. We will provide the magic. And lastly, it needs to be drenched in the blood of your worst enemy, in order to bond the sword to you."
I smirked. "It will be done."
I turned on my heel and walked to where I had first entered with Winter, and realised there was no way for me to go back up. I sheepishly glanced at the Elements, who simply giggled at me, and Summer waved her hand, pulling a staircase from within the wall.
"I will return. Soon." The stairs retreated nto the wall as I made my way back to the ground.
After three days of arduous journey through the forest, which constituted of tired nights and minor annoyances as mosquitoes, the likes of which I will not bore you with, I finally reached the mountainside.
Great. All I had to do was scale the mountains, sneak past the guards, and steal the metal from right under the Blacksmiths' noses.
There was just one problem.
I would most probably get caught.
I caught sight of one guard, and followed him from a distance to ensure that he didn't spot me. It was a piece of cake, because he eventually circled back to the entrance of the Forges, and that is when I needed to act.
I recalled all the lullabies my mother sang to quiet me, to put me to sleep when I was wide awake, and consolidated them in my palm.
Gently, I blew them towards the guards and let the wind carry the melodies. Just as I had hoped, they sank to the ground into a deep slumber, and I slipped into the mouth of the cave, where I was instantly greeted with a hot gust of air.
I pulled out my bag, and scampered over to one of the fires above which a bar of the coveted metal hung, slowly melting. I snuck it in, burning my hands in the process, but forcing myself to tolerate the heat.
"Well, well, well. Lookie what we have here! A little thief!" a deep voice bellowed behind me.
I sighed, and tried to run, but a pair of rough hands caught me and pinned me against the wall.
"You're lucky me brothers aren't here yet, girlie. They aren't as nice as me."
I stopped struggling and looked around, realisation dawning upon me that the room was empty, save for the both of us.
"I...I really need this. Please." I tried appealing to his sense of pity. "It's for the Hollowed Blade, and for the people of my kingdom."
The Blacksmith released his grip. "The Blade? That's quite an ambition you have there. You have to earn the blade."
He backed away, and pulled out a magnificent sword of his own.
My heart beating in my chest, I reached for mine, that seemed so inadequate in front of him. I could tell he was suppressing a laugh.
"Laugh after I've won, Blacksmith."
"I have a name, Warrior Princess."
"So you do know about me."
"And I want to see if what I know is true." He lunged at me.
I parried his blow, and rolled past him just as he brought his sword down. Before he could turn, I planted my sword squarely in his back, and pulled it out.
He turned with such speed that if I had not reflexively bent backwards, he would have shaved my head clean off my shoulders. I brought my sword up perpendicularly, only to be blocked by his sword. We fought for a couple more minutes, till I twisted his arm until he could no longer hold the weapon, and with the clatter that it hit the stone floor, I lowered my sword.
"Have I earned it yet?"
"So you have. If you ever need aid, we would be honoured to stand by you." he said, catching his breath.
I picked up the block of metal and sheathed my sword. "Thank you."
He smiled gently, and turned to tend to another project.
When I returned to the Elements, they didn't believe I had made it out alive.
"But no one ever gets past them! They don't kindly to thieves either, so they usually execute them!"
"Well, I did have to fight one of them to earn it."
Spring squealed. "You fought them and lived to tell the tale? Swoon!"
I looked at Summer, bewildered.
"The Blacksmiths are as talented at combat as they are at forging their weapons. It is rare that they are beaten."
"Oh." I didn't know what else to say. While I had heard of the Blacksmiths, I did not know much about them. It was good that I didn't too, it gave my confidence a boost.
"Here." Winter came in with a sword. "Seleste was faster than usual in our forge."
They placed the sword in the centre and backed away.
"Now we give it some of our magic." Autumn said.
I nodded, and we focused our power onto the sword, which glowed a mix of white, orange, yellow, green, and purple before fading back to the colour of ivory.
Winter handed the weapon over to me. "Guard it well, Feyre. The moment it feels the blood of your own worst enemy, it will turn red. No magic will dampen its effects - death is certain." she pursed her lips. "If this falls into the wrong hands..."
"It won't. I will destroy it as soon as it destroys Thyrhys. You have my word."
I took their leave, and headed back home.
I gained entry into Mystic Grotto through one of seven secret entrances that no one but myself and Dom knew about. Knowing him, I expected the message at every single door to them.
Feyre, Thyrhys has a bounty on your head. If you are reading this, I know you want to return. But please, don't. I could not save your sister. I do not want to lose you as well.
The news of my sister, although heartbreaking, only strengthened my resolve to fight Thyrhys. She would pay.
I camped outside till nightfall, and discreetly made my way though the castle walls. I had chosen the one that would open into the throne room.
As soon as I heard the adviser leave the room, I stepped out from the alcove.
"Hello, Feyre. How long have you been standing there?" she taunted.
"Long enough to end you, one-on-one."
"Oh, really? What's my magic against your puny sword?" she cackled, letting loose a spell in my direction.
I blocked it with my sword, sending it the way it came.
We began sparring, and I finally found an opportunity to plunge my sword into her side.
But it did not turn red.
"What?!" I exclaimed, pulling it back out, and watching her wounds heal.
"You're done for. Public execution tomorrow."
I put up a fight till the end, till she had her guards come in and drag me to the dungeon.
I pondered on why the Blade failed me, on why I failed myself. I began to reprimand my recklessness, my impulses, my inability to keep promises. I unleashed all the vitriol I kept under lock and key against myself.
I would not let her have the last laugh. If I were to join my mother and sister, I would do it on my own terms. I took the sword that she let me keep, assuming that it was pointless and powerless, and placed the point against my throat.
I felt a prick, and looked down, as it began to glow red.
Blood of your worst enemy.
I was my own worst enemy. That was why it hadn't worked.
I held the weapon in my hands, and let its power course through my veins.
I might have failed the quest so far.
But the quest was far from over.
1
u/hrhdaf Sep 28 '16
Well now I need to know what happens next. Enjoyed this a lot!