A Human Tale

A Human Tale

Part 1

a short story

By SparklyHorn

Genre: Fantasy

#FSWEntry

8/11/2020

word count: 2, 548

My rating: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

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"Legends are told of a large creature that is much like ourselves. They have no wings. There was a time in history, when us and them lived in peace. We traded services and helped those in need without question," Grandmother raises her hands and waffles her fingers in effect to the human tale she was twisting.

"But... What happened to them?" Young Hannele wonders aloud.

"Their ways became much different then our own. Intentions were twisted and it was harming us. They wanted us dead to study, or our homes moved to make way for their big buildings. Our rulers wanted to keep us safe, so they went about making a spell so neither of us could find the other accidentally."

"They could cast spells?" The young fairy interrupts again.

"Yes, they could. But, this spell was so powerful that our kind lost connection to the source of magic. Now, all we have is our flight."

Hannele gasps. "Wow! That's so cool!"

Just then, her mother walks in. "Is your grandmother telling you those crazy stories about the giant fairies?"

"Yeah! And, how they don't have wings."

Her mother chuckles. "No, they didn't. But those are just human tales, spun to enthrall your young mind. But, none of them are true. Plus, it is off to bed with you."

"But mooooom," She whines.

"Nope. Maybe another night," Her mother insists.

Hannele sighs, and follows her mothers orders.

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"G'd morn'g prin'ess!" Greets the baker as Hannele flutters down to the front of his humble shop.

"Greetings, Mr. Wheat," She responds cheerfully. "What do you have baking today? The smells are absolutely flattering."

"I've a fr'sh loaf 'f br'd c'ling in the k'tch'n if you're in'erested," He offers, shuffling around a few muffins.

"That would be lovely! Could I get two slices? Oh! And some beer butter, please," Hannele requests.

"C'ming righ' up!" Mr. Wheat goes into the kitchen and then comes back a moment later with the items wrapped in a leaf bag. "Th't all for yo', miss?"

"Yes, this will do. Have you heard if the tea brewer has returned from his collecting?" She asks, gently taking the bag of goodies from Mr. Wheat.

He thinks for a moment, tapping his chin with his knuckle. "Migh' h've got'n ba'k just last ni't!"

That is wonderful news. Have a blessed day!"

"A'd to you, prin'ess!" He calls after her when she excitedly flew away. A guard catches up with her, the boy heaving for breath.

"Good morning, Phillip. Do you have any updates for me?" Hannele and Phillip had pretty much grown up together, with him only two years younger then her.

"My father wished me to accompany you to the library, your highness," He responds, having mostly caught his breath by now. His father is the lead of the palace guards, and a very straightforward man.

"That is wonderful! Do you know the librarians daughter? Well, she just may be able to help me with my studies."

"Extraordinary news, princess! I know how much this all means to you," Phillip congratulates her.

Hannele does a twirl mid-flight, letting her petal dress dance up around her. "Maybe today will be the day that I figure out if the Fairy Dance really exists or not."

The two of them flutter through the grand entrance of the library and go up to the living quarters high in the old oak tree.

Per duty, Phillip steps in front of and knocks on the door for Hannele. She stops him from announcing her presence.

The door pulls p[en, and the fairy is gleaming in delight. "Princess! I am so glad you got my letter, I never got a response, so I was worried you didn't get it! Actually, I was just rewriting it..." She trails off to motion to a piece of paper on her desk.

"You never received my response?" Hannele back tracks.

"No, I didn't," The fairy its, welcoming them into the living space. Phillip closes the door behind Hannele.

"I had hand-written that response... Now who did I give it to?" Hannele thinks aloud, mumbling. "Grant... I think I gave it to my mothers guard. But how wouldn't it have gotten here? He is all about his duties..."

"I can ask him, princess," Phillip offers.

"That is much alright, I should speak to him once we return. But, we mustn't dwell on that. Your name is Eilish, correct?"

"Yes, princess! Willis has Wiesel of the Oak Library," She does a little bow. "My mother informed me of your studies, and I figured that I might be able to help you some."

"That is wonderful news, Eilish. I have brought some bread and butter. A good food for though, hum?" Hannele suggests.

Eilish agrees and opens the curtains to a window next to the table. She then invites them to sit with her before collecting a pile of resources ranging from lose papers to a thick book.

Phillip serves the bread and butter to the girls while Eilish lays out a few maps. She begins explaining. "I have devoted my life to exploring beyond the borders of the kingdom. Out there seems to be never ending, and evermore different from here.

"No, I havn't gotten any farther from where historic explorers have gone, but I am lead to believe there is a magical reason preventing exploration. Something big, and forgotten."

She flips around the map so it is facing Hannele. "Here, here, and here," She motions to different parts of the map surrounding the kingdom. "These are the places that I have explored." She trails her fingers out to the edges of the maps. "It is hard to believe, but as I continued flying this way I seemed to be losing air traction. Or, my ability to fly." She points to the eastern boarders. "So, I came home to do some research and found a the Source Theory.

"The theory states that there is a magical epicenter to the magic of our flight. It goes on to say that the farther you are from it, the harder it will be to fly. Until, eventually, you can no longer fly. It becomes impossible.

"It also says that there is a location where flight is better then we know it as. Maybe perfect, maybe deadly. It's hard to tell. This place could have a different kind of magic. After this, I discovered the Portal Theory.

"The Portal Theory relates to a human tale we were told as fairilings. That there were large, wingless, fairies in the past that we are now separated from. The Portal Theory believes that there is a place where magic is so powerful that you would be able to go to a different land that can be reached by no other way.

"If this magic epicenter exists, and something can be made from it, I may know where it is." Eilish points to a forest on the map.

"Rooftop forest? But, that is so nearby. Why would there be a magical epicenter hidden so close to the kingdom?" Hannele wonders.

"Because we need the magic of the Epicenter for flight! Don't you see? It would have to be nearby or we wouldn't be able to use its magic. And, when you fly in the opposite direction," She points back to two of the locations that she has gone to before. "That is when you tend to loose air traction." Eilish explains, confident in her theory.

"Thank you, Eilish. This has been very informative and I believe it should serve as a great aid to my research."

"Anytime, princess. Just letter me if you need an exploration partner!"

"Will do," Hannele agrees and she heads off with Phillip.

They return to the castle, Phillip refusing to leave Hannele's side even with her insisting that he should go take a break. Together, they track down Grant. To their luck, he is not currently with the queen.

"Princess Hannele," Grant gives a deep bow when she approaches him. "How has your morning been?"

"It has been quite eventful," Hannele chooses her words carefully. "But I have come to ask you about a letter."

"Whatever you need, your highness," Grant automatically agrees.

"Four days ago, I had entrusted you with a letter. Do you that?"

"Yes, princess."

"I had instructed you to deliver it or to get it to someone to deliver it as soon as possible. Today, I had visited the supposed recipient of the letter. They had never received it. Do you have any idea what could have happened?"

Grant speculated for a moment, probably wondering how she could have figured this all out. He then replies. "After seeing you, her majesty had found me before I was able to off the letter. She demanded to read it, and tore it up when she was done."

Hannele stands, frustrated. Mother had destroyed her letter! Why would she sabotage her? "Thank you, Grant. You have been of much aid. You may be dismissed." Hannele walks on, now determined to locate the letter thief.

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"Mother!" Hannele cries out not so friendly after bursting into her majesty's quarters. Even this late in the afternoon, her mother is sitting at her vanity getting her hair done-up.

"Darling, what's go you in such a tizzy? I haven't heard from you since you left for the bakers this morning!"

"You tore up my letter that I had given Grant," She accuses, ignoring all of her former training on keeping her anger in check.

The queen scowls. "Who told you such things?"

"Grant himself, mother. Why did you destroy my letter?" She tries to keep from complaining but is too frustrated to keep her emotions in check.

"You have no  reason to be meeting up with that adventurer," The queen spat. "Much less about magic! Are you still chasing after those childhood fantasies?"

"They aren't fantasies. There is a magic out there. And the giants? They have to be real! Nothing says that they aren't."

"A childish recollection, Hannele. You must stop these games at once!"

"I wasn't, mother. I refuse to give up when the truth is at my finger tops. Don't you want to know what's out there? The truth about our existence?"

"No! There is nothing out there but dangers and illness. How else do you think I lost my brother? My mother told us those same tales that she told you. It's not real," Her mother insists.

"Well, you're wrong! And I will prove it to you by bringing you a strand of hair from a giant! Mark my words," Hannele storms out, ignoring her mothers protests.

"Hannele!" Phillip calls after her, never having been as strong of a flier. "Where are you going?!"

With ignorance, she dodges a few castle staff and darts out the nearest exit, going straight for the edge of the city.

She pounds her fist on the door of the Tea Shop, quickly working to catch her breath. Even though the fly had cooled her nerves, it was still exhausting.

After some rustling from within, the tea maker opens the door, his face lighting up at the sight of the princess. "Hannele," he greets. "No need to knock, princess."

She heaves an, "I'm sorry," and steps inside, the endless mixture of  spices thrilling her nose.

"What brings you here in such a rush?" He asks calmly.

"Mother problems," She rolls her eyes. "And interest. You returned last night, I hear?"

"You heard correctly, my return is fresh and information plentiful. But I apologize for your query, her majesty can have quite the... voice."

Hannele chuckles. "Your hospitality is much appreciated, Mr. Brewer."

"Always for you, princess."

Before he can continue, another knock comes to the door and he excuses himself to go and answer it.

A breathless Phillip leans on the door frame. "Princess..."

"You didn't have to follow me, Phillip," Hannele crosses her arms. "I can protect myself."

"Her highness... Put the castle on lockdown until your return! I hardly made it out," Phillip explains, closing the door behind himself. "But I doubt she would mind if you are gone for a short while."

Hannele gleams. "Thanks, Phillip."

"Magic, mothers, mystery, oh my." Mr. Brewer clicks his tongue. "I guess Now is better then ever to tell you about what I discovered."

"That sounds lovely," Hannele agrees.

Everyone takes a seat, Mr. Brewer showing off some of the things that he had collected over the last few weeks.

"My journey into a deeper part of the Rooftop forest was not an easy one. But I believe that I have located a place beyond our wildest dreams. A large clearing, hidden in the forest. Rocks as big as houses forming an unnatural circle.

"There is no chance that this formation was natural, the rocks had to have been moved there. I am also lead to believe that he fairies were not the ones that moved them there. For flying in that area was as difficult as flying in the open sky during a windstorm.

"Personally, I stayed out of the area between the rocks in fear of not being able to bring you this information back to you. But, this, Hannele, may be where your ancestors cast the Seperation Spell."

"The portal... A magical epicenter," She gasps. "A place where flight is manipulated! So you know what this means? We found the portal!"

"Princess, this is amazing!" Phillip celebrates. "Now all you have to do is test that dance."

"You would have to get there, first," Mr. Brewer reminds them.

"Wouldn't you be coming with us?" Hannele asks.

Mr. Brewer shakes his head. "I am getting old and have only just returned from my last exposition. The residents need me here to open my shop again. But, the journey is not all that difficult in anything but it's length. If you had a trained map reader with you, the adventure could not be all that difficult."

"That is wonderful news, Mr. Brewer! Do you propose you have a map we could barrow?"

"Of course, dear princess. This one here should do you well," he gives her a map, explaining where he thought would be the best to go to get to the formation.

Hannele thanks him, and hurries back to the library with Phillip at her side. With the sun lowering in the sky, there aren't too many fairies around.

"Back so soon?" Eilish greets when she opens the door for Phillip and Hannele.

"Mr. Brewer found the magical epicenter and the sooner we leave, the better," Hannele informs her.

Eilish is unsure. "The castle is on lock down, would leaving now be all that wise?"

"If I go back I might get locked in a tower until my wedding. This may be our only chance to know the truth about our past," Hannele insists.

"And we can always leave in the morning," Phillip adds.

Eilish giggles. "We should leave straight-a-way! Allow me to-"

"Eilish?" An older fairy comes to the door.

"Yes, ma'ma?" Eilish replies.

"Dinner is ready, and please invite your friends to come and us," She insists.

"We will be right behind you!" Eilish agrees.

Hannele politely shrugs and the trio take a quick break for dinner.

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There is more to this story! It had been eating at my creative insides and I have to write it before I do anything else! So don't you worry, part two should be out very, very soon!

And yes, the title is backward for "a fairy tale" I thought it would be a fun little touch!

More of my stories found here -> #SparklyHorn

If you would like to critique my work, feel free to! I know I have things to learn and improve upon. Just, please, be nice about it

𝑛𝑜 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒

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