@quaggan
The court of Dreamhaven was always a splendid place, even when nothing all that interesting was happening. Magical lights fluttered just out of reach, near the ceiling of the grand hall, and every wall was strung with flowered garlands, the scent of honeysuckle and lavender always present on the air. Typically it was a bustle of activity, but on this day it was rather subdued, peaceful.
On this particular day, the crown princess had been confined to the palace on the orders of her parents, and she was moping the day away perched on the sill of one of the massive windows that took up almost the entirety of the western-most wall.
Krysta sighed and let her head lean against the ever-so-slightly gold-tinted pane of glass, watching the bustle of the palace courtyard below.
Far below. The palace itself was grown into the trunk of a massive, ancient willow tree, and the courtyard was nestled among its roots, its borders gently brushed by the drooping leaves and branches, veiling the palace from the rest of the city. The princess of Dreamhaven fluttered her wings unconsciously as she pouted and stared out, trying to get a glimpse of the wider forest beyond through the green curtain.
"Your Highness?"
"Mm?" She lifted her head and turned toward the voice- Anfelath, one of the stewards. "Yes, Annie, what is it?"
The old pixie crinkled up his nose at the nickname, but he didn't press the issue. "Well, your mother and father thought perhaps you might like to hear an old ballad or some such, something to keep your mind occupied. You've been rather...despondent of late."
Krysta rolled her eyes and took to the air, hovering with her feet just above the floor. "If Mother and Father really wanted me to cheer up, they'd let me go
out," she said with a finely arched eyebrow. Anfelath blustered, but before he could really say anything she waved him off and sighed, "No, it's alright. I'd...be happy to hear this new minstrel. That is what you were leading up to, isn't it?"
There'd been rumors around the palace that her parents were thinking of bringing a minstrel- a real, proper, official one- into the court, so she assumed that's what the steward was getting at. He nodded and bowed curtly.
"I'll fetch him then, highness. Do wait here." He glided back out of the hall.
Krysta sighed again and drifted back toward the window, toes barely skimming the ground. "Don't I always?"
Steward Anfelath brushed inside the drawing room, his wings fluttering in the air. "The Princess will see you now" he proclaimed.
"That's as far as I go, then" Caerwyn the Candlelight commented. "Unless the invitation included me as well? Yes, didn't think so. Go on, present yourself to Her Highness."
Maldwyn followed the steward through the winding pathways of the castle. The lines of the wood swirled on the walls and floor both in a mesmerising pattern, immediately captivating his attention. It wasn't hard to distract him from his nervousness, especially when faced with such beauty. What was nature trying to tell him, hiding its secret in this geometric cipher? Was it yet another mystery no one was fated to solve?
The steward cleared his throat as he floated towards the door at the end of the hallway and pulled them open. "Her Highness is waiting inside" he explained, moving aside. Maldwyn entered cautiously, immediately dropping to one knee in a proper bow, hovering just above the floor.
Krysta glanced up as she heard the doors open and rose from her perch on the windowsill, flitting to the center of the room.
Hmm. The court had never had an official minstrel before, and for some reason she'd expected him to be...older. Not ancient, certainly, but not a young man either. She couldn't even put her finger on why what was what she'd expected, but Maldwyn took her a bit by surprise.
The bowing did not, unfortunately, and she sighed. Her eyes darted from side to side, confirming they were alone in the hall, and she let her wings still so she could plop to the ground, folding her legs under her body and tilting her head at him curiously.
"You really don't have to do that," the princess told him with a wave of her hand and a roll of her eyes. "Leastways not when it's just the two of us. Or even if some of the maids or what-have-you are about, they all know I hate the bowing and scraping and nonsense." She wrinkled her nose up, then tried for a friendly smile.
"What's your name, Sir Minstrel? No one told me."
At the princess' command, he raised his head to look her in the eyes. She was beautiful, truly a lady of royal blood. Her request was surprising, but he would obey nevertheless, as a loyal subject should. At least both the princess and the etiquette his mother told him to follow were in agreement on one thing: he should introduce himself now.
"I hope to serve the Queendom long
I am called Maldwyn, the Starsong.
May the sun's light colour your days
And warm your wings with its bright rays."
She blinked, a little startled, then started to smile, eyes glinting delightedly. "Well, that was beautiful," she enthused, laughing quietly. It was a silvery sound, almost chiming through the air. Her head tilted to the side and she asked, "Do you always talk like that, or is it just for special occasions?"
Though her tone was genuinely curious, there was a bit of a teasing glimmer to her eyes, and a quirk to the corner of her mouth that hinted at a moment of humor.
Oh right. Most pixies didn't speak in verse. At least those he met didn't - in the ballads and songs he's learned to perform, everyone spoke in perfect rhythm and sang at perfect pitch. He believed that life would be better if more people spoke in song and poetry, but he has grown to accept this imperfection of the world.
"That's true, I always speak in verse
Few others do, to my despair.
And no longer need I rehearse
It's easy now like breathing air."
From this perspective, it was but a day like any other... but it couldn't be true, could it? After all, it was the day he was to be introduced to the court in his new official role, and he was even given the honour of speaking with the heiress to the Queendom herself! How could he show such inexcusable lack of decorum?!
"I see." Krysta got to her feet and clasped her hands behind her back, fluttering around and over him in a little spiral. Her skirt and hair blew gently in the soft buffeting wind of her wings as she came to hover just in front of an above him.
"Stand, please," she encouraged, holding a hand out to him with a small smile. "Really, I'm not much for ceremony, if I can help it."
It looked like the princess was not very fond of the etiquette and decorum. It really shouldn't be surprising - songs and stories were full of royals who yearned for freedom from their titles and demands of their subjects. Every tale's deepest truth was rooted in reality that it created, after all.
He rose, still floating above the floor. He preferred it to walking - it could be annoying on his wings at the end of the day, but whenever he walked, he got too absorbed in tracing the patterns of the wood and forgot where he was going. Flying was a blessing.
"How may I attend you, pray tell?
Is there a service you'd wish from me?
One word is enough to compel
I shall follow through any decree."
The princess giggled quietly- she couldn't help it- and raised a hand to press her fingers to her lips.
"Well...Annie sent you in here to play something, I believe," she mused. Beckoning for Maldwyn to follow her, she bobbed back into the air and fluttered toward her seat on the windowsill. She gestured for him to sit with her, smiling softly.
"Play, if you like. What's your favorite song?"
How could he pick just one favourite song? He loved every single melody he's ever heard, from cheerful folk songs to solemn ballads. But he couldn't just ignore the princess' question! It was barely his first day of holding the post of a court minstrel too! To think that he was given the simplest possible order, and still failed to obey!
Although... Perhaps, this situation was actually the other way around. After all, if every song he knew was his favourite, that meant he could play anything and avoid guilty conscience! That was a relief.
He took out his lute and tried out the strings while he thought on what to play - the last thing he wanted was to show his incompetence by playing an ill-tuned instrument in front of the princess! The likelihood of something getting messed up in the short time it took him to glide here and present himself was not high, but the risk was not worth taking, either!
He could only hope that he didn't keep the princess waiting by the time he was ready. His attitude changed the very moment the first notes rang in the chamber, as if the lute itself was enchanted - and knowing Caerwyn, it could be. His fingers danced on the strings with lightning speed, producing a melody of almost enchanting complexity and rhythm.
Krysta's ears perked forward as the song began, and she settled herself into her seat with rapt attention fixed on the bard. Her eyes were wide and glimmering, a soft smile playing at her lips.
Nearly all pixies loved music, it was almost in their nature. But she'd never heard someone play quick like this.
With a soft, happy sigh she drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, allowing her cheek to rest on her knees as she just listened, letting the music wash over her.
There was no feeling in the world that could possibly compare to this. Music was sweeter than any nectar, greater than the boundless sky, more beautiful than the light of the stars. His fingers danced on the strings of the lute, keeping the quick tempo of the song. Each note was a duet, a part of a dialogue of a musician with his instrument.
With one final note, the song ended on a cheerful crescendo. It was, Maldwyn reflected, like a spell breaking. A sad moment. He only now noticed that he was no longer floating - so utterly absorbed he was with his melody that he forgot to beat his wings. He quickly took to the air again - while the etiquette said nothing about standing or flying in the presence of royalty (and the princess did say that she wasn't too fond of decorum), it was simply his own preference.
As the last chord faded away, Krysta's light applause echoed through the hall.
"That was lovely!" she enthused, fluttering her wings to hover at Maldwyn's level in the air. She but her lip, sort of hesitating, then asked carefully, "Do you...know any ballads? I have a weakness for stories told in song."
The admission was made with a soft blush, one finger twirling almost self-consciously through her silver hair.
The minstrel bowed, more out of habit than etiquette. The applause was nice, as always but the music itself was the greatest reward.
He listened to the princess' request intently. It seemed that she shared his fondness for ballads. What could make a brilliant story even greater, if not putting the music to accompany its words and make the truth hidden within ring even clearer? Maldwyn had quite the collection at the disposal, but he didn't know which ones the princess was familiar with, let alone what would she like to hear.
"I know some, but what should I play?
How would you like 'Finnegan's Wake'?
Perhaps the 'Dawning of the day'?
Or 'False Sir John', that devious snake?"
"Oh, I love Finnegan's Wake." Krysta beamed and her wings fluttered a little faster, giving the air around her a silver shimmer. "I heard it in a tavern in town once."
She flushed as she realized what she said and added quickly, hushed, "I, ah, wasn't really supposed to be there. I hope maybe we can keep that particular piece of information to ourselves?" she asked with a sheepish little smile.
He nodded in agreement. "You have my oath then, this I swear
Your secret I will keep.
And if I speak, may the earth tear
And bury me so deep."
He could understand Krysta's desires. In the stories he's heard, rebellious princesses frequently sneaked out of the castle against the wishes of their royal parents, eager to see the nation they were to rule and the people they were to guide. In the end, the lessons they learned outside made them wise and compassionate, and the king and queen always saw the error of their ways. Perhaps Dreamhaven would soon become the setting of such a tale. But now was no time for deliberations - he had a ballad to play! He strummed the strings and began to sing.
"Tim Finnegan lived in Walking Street
He was a gentleman mighty odd
He'd a beautiful brogue rich and sweet
To rise in the world, he carried a hod..."
He continued to spin his lyrical tale, accompanied by the music of his lute. He described the eponymous character and how he's met his sad end, falling to his death. The titular wake followed, as his song moved to describing the mourners, their relation to the deceased, their words over his corpse. Finally, the song reached its climax as the guests, already quite tipsy, accidentally spilled some whiskey over the corpse - and lo and behold, Finnegan rose from the dead!
Krysta laughed delightedly and clapped along to the song, beaming. She even joined in on the chorus, once her memory had been jogged and she remembered the words.
When Maldwyn finished, she smiled at him and bounced to her feet, twirling on her heel. Her short skirts fluttered up around her hips for a moment and the silver glow from her wings brightened just a bit. "Can you imagine?" she giggled as she turned back to face him. "What if it was a true story?"
She laughed again, hands clasped behind her back as she rocked forward onto the tips of her toes where she hovered.
The princess was so cheerful now, singing along, her wings glowing with glee. He couldn't help but smile as well. It was a funny story, after all - just imagining the faces of the guests as the dead man came back to life - and probably scolded them for spilling good alcohol - was enough to make most audiences laugh.
"It could be true, this I'll admit.
I saw it in many songs.
Cheating death by force, love or wit
Forever or not for long.
Or maybe it's a simpler tale:
The ballad's author loved his ale."
The princess giggled again and suddenly whirled away in a silver and green blur, performing a graceful back flip before coming up to buzz just a bit above Maldwyn's height.
He seemed like the kind of person who may go along with her...
"Master Minstrel, how would you feel about breaking a rule?" she asked, eyes glimmering merrily.
Break rules? But she was the princess - if a rule displeased her, why not change it? Was it even possible for royalty to break rules, if their word was the only rule? That was most strange, and he decided to inquire further.
"Through your veins runs the blood of queens
Your word is the rule in these wood.
Can anyone, by any means
Break rules with your blessings? Who could?"
Krysta rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately, I do not make the rules. I am as bound to them as any in Dreamhaven," she huffed. Waving a hand airily, she added, "The rules are just...a little different for nobility, I suppose. Anyway, you in?"
That was quite a rude awakening, but perhaps something he should have already known. Even royalty couldn't command the sun to shine throughout the night, after all. He could sympathize with her situation. Caerwyn did tell him not to break any rules, but she also said he should do what he's told to.
He cautiously nodded. The latter was more important than the former, wasn't it?
The princess beamed delightedly and grabbed his hand. "Wonderful! Follow me."
Wings buzzing excitedly, she towed him after her out of the hall, zipping down the halls of the palace toward one of the smaller doors out into the gardens.
Maldwyn followed, his mind awash with questions. Where would she take him? Would they be trespassing, or would the rule-breaking only begin once they arrived? What if they got caught? And-
All the questions and doubts were wiped from his mind the moment they entered the royal gardens. The Niahi Woods and Dreamhaven were beautiful places, but they couldn't compare to the vision before him. For the first time for quite a while, he was at a loss of words, the language he wielded so well could no longer properly describe this feast for eyes.
Krysta paused, glancing over her shoulder at the minstrel, and smiled. "It is beautiful, isn't it?" she murmured, pausing the buzzing of her wings for a moment to let her feet touch the grass, sighing happily at the sensation.
"See that path there, through the starblossoms?" She pointed, then started off at a more sedate pace, waving for him to follow. "This way, come on!"
To his great shame, he had to admit that he forgot himself for a moment. The sheer beauty of this place overwhelmed him, and for this one perfect second nothing else existed. He quickly shook himself out of his reverie and followed the princess, reluctantly biding farewell to the beautiful garden. He was getting curious about where was she leading him, and what kind of rule breaking would be involved.
Technically, Krysta had already broken several rules- those of her parents' forbidding her from leaving the palace- but they were still on palace grounds.
"This way, this way," she called to her companion with a laugh, darting through flowers that grew in ever tighter clusters, until they reached the trailing edges of the willow branches that marked the edge of palace territory.
He followed the princess carefully through the willow branches, his wings brushing against the weeping twigs. Were this a ballad, perhaps she would be taking him to a secret location to ensorcel or murder him. Maybe it was for the best that he didn't take his harp along - he wouldn't want it in danger. But he could no longer keep his silence.
"My curiosity now prevails
Princess Krysta, I must know
Could you please tell me the details
Where are we about to go?"
"Shh!"
The princess suddenly zipped back, tackling him into a nearby cluster of dewberry bushes. She clapped one hand over the minstrel's mouth as she lay on top of him, craning her neck slightly to see back out onto the path, wings perfectly still.
A pixie in a bright uniform marched by their hiding place and she held her breath until he'd passed. Once he'd gone from sight, she relaxed and removed her hand from Maldwyn's mouth, wincing and giving him an apologetic look.
"Sorry, couldn't risk getting caught. I didn't hurt you or anything, did I?"
His squeak of surprise was muffled - thankfully, he would have a hard time finding a rhyme for just a sound. He lay still, deciding not to struggle - he didn't know what was going on, and didn't want to do something that he might later regret.
He watched the guard march by, her wings stiff and ready to take off to pursue a danger. So was the rule-breaking trespassing after all? Were they about to visit a place that not even a princess was allowed to see? His curiosity was stoked even further as they waited for the guard to pass. When he spoke up to answer the princess' question, he kept his voice appropriately low in order not to attract even more attention.
"I think I'm unharmed and fine.
It's just some dirt I don't care for
Your eyes here far exceed mine.
Have you been in this place before?"
She nodded quickly, rolling off of him to crouch at his side. "Yes. There's a tunnel just past the forest grounds that leads out into the forest proper. It's meant to be an escape route for emergencies- and I'm not supposed to know it exists." She crinkled her nose up, then bounced to her feet and held a hand down to him. "C'mon, I'll help you up."
So the castle in Dreamhaven did have an escape tunnel! He was thinking about it recently - a tale a fellow bard told him featured the last heir to an imperial bloodline fleeing through the tunnel, only to find it caved in, to her despair. He wondered if they were about to share her fate. Doubtful - the worst thing that could happen, should their route be blocked, would be that they'd have to turn back.
He accepted the princess' hand, wriggling his wings a little to get off ground easier.
Krysta pulled him to his feet with a quick smile, buzzing up to hover at his height. "This way. Try to keep quiet," she encouraged as she ducked back out onto the path, glancing around before she hurried along.
The minstrel followed her, every now and then taking a look around his surroundings. The princess was far more perceptive than he was, so he doubted that he'd be able to see anything before she did. But it was still a new place he was curious about, and wanted to see. It wasn't likely that he'd ever need to write a song featuring the escape through the Dreamhaven tunnel, but it was best to err on the side of caution.
The mouth of the tunnel was well-camouflaged under the branches of the willow, tucked away in a pile of river stone. Krysta gripped Maldwyn's hand as she pulled him toward it, then folded her wings to her back to wriggle inside.
"Don't worry, it widens a lot after you get through the entrance," she murmured over her shoulder.
He wouldn't have guessed that the entrance was hidden there! He supposed that it was one of its strengths - this way, should someone try to sneak out of the castle, or pursue someone taking the secret tunnel, it wouldn't be easy to get there.
He waited for the princess to get inside the tunnel, then followed. The feeling of the earth pressing against his body was quite claustrophobic, and it was dark inside. Fortunately, there was only one way as far as he could see, so the chance of being lost was rather small. And he had no intention of exploring this place anyway.
He wiggled experimentally and pushed through. The princess seemed to be getting further in, as far as he could see in the darkness of the tunnel. She was far ahead - was he moving too slow? Oh no. He realized what was going on.
"It looks like I am out of luck...
I think one of my wings got stuck."
Oh." Krysta paused, then turned around with a chuckle, tripping lightly over the dark earth toward the entrance to the tunnel. "Here, give me your hand."
She reached out and grasped his hands, wrapping her fingers around his wrists and leaning back, beating her wings for extra leverage. "Almost- gah!"
The minstrel came suddenly free and for the second time that day she found herself sprawled across the ground, though this time it was Malwyn on top of her instead of the other way around. "Ah! Sorry," she giggled, smiling up at him. Silver light surrounded her faintly, glinting off her hair and eyes.
At least it wasn't his lute that got stuck - the case he carried his instrument in got through, and now was sadly dangling on the side, waiting for the rest of his body to get through. He tried pressing his wing closer to his body to get himself free.
The Princess pulled with such force that he came unstuck and landed on her. He quickly rolled over in order to free her - his first instinct was to take to the air, but the tunnel was low and there wasn't a lot of space for him to do so. There was barely enough that two pixies could fit in it side by side. He was about to apologize - and thank her for the help, when he heard rustling coming from outside. Did someone hear a suspicious sound from the secret tunnel and - or worse, saw him sticking out - and come to investigate?
They waited, with bated breath. Perhaps the smarter option would be to get away, but more movement could draw the patrol's attention, alert the guard to their location. The rustling grew more distant, until finally it faded, allowing them to breathe with relief. He waited a few blinks before speaking, just to be sure.
"That was quite close, that I must say
I couldn't have done that by myself
But before we go on our way
Thank you so much for your previous help."
The princess giggled as she fluttered back a few steps. "Don't mention it," she murmured, still keeping her voice low. "Now come on, hurry up! We'll have to be back before sundown so my parents don't get suspicious."
Maldwyn followed the princess, thinking. The royal couple couldn't probably be persuaded - unlike him, Princess Krysta knew them well and if she couldn't get them to relax their strict demands, there was little to be done. But could they manipulate the limit itself? Maybe he could charm his neighbour's fireflies to illuminate the windows of the royal palace, make it look like the sun is still shining? Then again, it wasn't likely that she'd let him near her pets again after what happened last week. Maybe he could sing to the sun and convince it to stay up a little longer?
His eyes grew accustomed to the darkness of the tunnel, but soon, its grey air turned lighter. Were they close to the exit? He was curious to see where would they end up.
Light began to filter down more steadily as they progressed, and soon enough Krysta was leading him up the gentle slope of the tunnel and out into the forest. Pine trees stretched high high high above their heads, and the brisk chill of autumn that somehow never quite made it into Dreamhaven proper bit into her skin.
She shivered delightedly and spun to grab Maldwyn's hand. "Come on!" She took to the air with a laugh.
He breathed a small sigh of relief once they were out of the tunnel. He was worried that his wings would get stuck again. The Princess moved with a practiced ease that hinted at earlier experience with the passage, but he's never come through - he never even knew this place existed to begin with!
His relief was as short-lived as his worry was, quickly replaced by an ever-renewing awe of the beauty around him. He's been to the woods outside before, in search of inspiration and beauty, easy things to find. He truly sympathized with the Princess' plight in that moment - should some cruel law forbid him from venturing forth in search of beauty, surely he would sneak out as well. He was enchanted by the chaotic dance of sunspots on the forest floor. The overbearing canopy, woven of leaves and vines, was spread above, in vain trying to catch all the rays of the sun. A leaf blew past on a gust of the wind, almost as big as Maldwyn himself was. He was tempted to try and catch him, perhaps ride on it for a few fleeting moments. But the princess pulled him away, and he followed.
Krysta smiled at him again as she led him out into the forest, hovering just slightly above the ground.
She easily found what she was looking for-- a "fairy circle", a ring of mushrooms in a near perfect circle that the locals claimed served as the site for fae dances and the like under a full moon.
He didn't have the time to miss the leaf for long, as soon he saw their far more tempting destination. He loved dancing in those circles under the full moon - what pixie didn't?! He wondered if the Queen and King ever let their daughter out to enjoy herself, if only under guard. He didn't recall ever seeing her at the dances, but the nobles of the castle probably had their own feasts and celebrations, ones the common folk were not invited to.
As it always was, he couldn't hold one train of thought too long, not when surrounded by such beauty. The vibrant colours of the mushrooms mischievously peeking from beneath the earth were inviting him to surrender to his instinct, to enter the ring and dance with wild abandon. He fluttered closer, suddenly reminded of the weight of the lute at his back. That was an even better idea - he always preferred to express his feelings and thoughts through music. He took off to land on one of the mushrooms, his fingers playing at the strings before he even touched down.
The princess followed him almost cautiously, hesitating a moment before she lit down on the mushroom beside him. She tilted her head and closed her eyes to just listen to him play, a small smile curving at her lips.
Should he play a dancing song? He cast a glance at the princess, but she seemed more interested in listening than dancing, at least for now. His attention strayed back to his lute, one of the few things in the world that could hold the full interest of his flighty mind. The song slowly began to take shape, from the first notes into a firmer, more structured yet still free melody. His song didn't aim to outdo the cries of the birds, the whispers of the wind or the rustling of the leaves, but to weave through all those sounds and create a full symphony together. It was part improvisation, part re-purposing parts of other pieces, an infinitely malleable construct that could adapt to any sudden change or new entrance. A bird cried overhead, its shadow passing over the small circle. Maldwyn responded to its call with a bolder plucking of the strings, almost inviting the bird to respond. Unfortunately - or perhaps, fortunately, considering that it could have been carnivorous - the avian didn't react and continued its flight.
Krysta's smile widened and she began to sway gently back and forth to the melody, humming softly in time with the music.
A soft rustle in the nearby underbrush pulled her slightly from the sounds pouring from Maldwyn's instrument and she twisted in place a bit. Her eyes widened.
"Maldwyn," she hissed, reaching back toward him. Her eyes were locked with the amber gaze that peered at her through the branches of a low bush. "Shhh."
Perhaps he didn't hear the words of the princess, so lost within the song he was playing. Perhaps he simply considered it yet another part of forest's symphony, something to warrant a response of notes rather than actions. Or perhaps he believed that whatever the mystery creature was, it wouldn't harm them. Either way, he did not interrupt the song, until the beast's shadow fell over him.
"Maldwyn!" Krysta buzzed into the air, grabbing for the minstrel's arm. "Come on, we have to--"
She froze as the beast stalked out into the clearing, auburn-bronze fur almost shimmering in the autumn sunlight. The fox blinked and tilted its head at the two pixies, licking its lips.
The symphony was suddenly snuffed out, one jarring note was enough to shatter the song. Lost, his expression was a mix of confusion and surprise as he raised his head, only to see the fox. Oh.
It wasn't his first time seeing one of the animals of the Niahi Woods, but it definitely was his first time seeing one so close! And why was it looking at him this way? Did he accidentally call it here, carelessly announcing their presence with his song?
If so, it was his responsibility to make it right. He could feel the sun's gaze upon him, judgmental and expectant. What could he do? He was no warrior, he couldn't fight off an animal this size. A true hero would throw himself at the beast anyway, to draw its attention so that the princess could escape, but she was holding his arm so tight, he doubted he could move away from her. She appeared to be as entranced by the fox as he was.
The saying was, music could soothe a savage beast - and that was the only thing he could do. He reached for his lute, but his hand never found its target - the fox was vigilant for any sign of movement. The moment one of his prey moved, the beast struck, its paw pinning the minstrel to the ground.
The princess cried out, winging backward through the air as the fox lunged. "Maldwyn!"
The fox turned toward her when she shouted, head tilted...curiously?
Why wasn't it trying to eat them?"
Krysta blinked. "Um...hello. Please don't eat my friend."
The fox tilted his head from side to side-- then slowly removed his paw from the minstrel and sat back, tail swishing through the grass.
Well.
Okay then.
She didn't have much time to worry about that, darting forward to land by the other pixie's side. "Oh my stars, are you alright?!" She eyed the fox warily as she tried to help him up, but the animal just watched them placidly.
Was he about to be eaten? He didn't want to be dinner! As much as he respected the nature and all of its creations - how could he not, being so intrinsically tied to it? He could even see a kind of stark nobility in ending one's life to feed another - but he definitely didn't want his life to be over so soon! He only just became the court minstrel!
But what should he do? Pinned, he couldn't move - couldn't even wriggle under the weight! He was panicking, but suddenly, the fox released him. Confused but still hopeful, Maldwyn carefully picked himself off the ground. The princess flew up to him - did she do something to the animal?
"I am unharmed - at least, I think.
Just a bit dazed - also confused.
It caught me in a second's blink
I thought that I'd at least get bruised..."
It was strange that the fox let him go without even taking a bite... He looked at the Princess questioningly.
Krysta returned his questioning look with a befuddled shake of her head. "I-- I just asked him to let you go and he did."
She looked up at the fox cautiously. "Um...thank you?"
The animal's tongue lolled in a lazy grin and he yapped happily, tail wagging a little faster. Rather dazed, the princess looked back to Malwyn, eyes wide.
His eyes widened in surprise, but it was something he could accept. She was royalty, after all - it was only natural that every subject of hers, every creature in Niahi Woods would obey. The natural questions such as how did the fox understand her, or how would it even know about royalty and such matters, didn't occur to him.
"I didn't know! I am in awe!
To think you even command beasts!
At your demand, he moved his paw
And I was not harmed in the least!"
"I...don't think I'm commanding him," Krysta said slowly, still seeming a little dazed. "I just...asked."
She fluttered down beside the minstrel and tried to help him to his feet, one eye kept on the fox. The creature seemed perfectly friendly now, tail flicking from side to side as he leaned forward to scent the air around the two pixies.
Maldwyn tried to wrap his head around this whole situation, his wings fluttering with excitement. If the fox could be persuaded with just asking, that probably meant he wasn't going to make him his dinner - a hungry animal wouldn't just leave his food alone just because someone asked nicely.
"Do you know what brought this fox here?
From where comes this interest in us?
Did my song fall into his ear?
Why would animals make such fuss?"
If the princess could ask the fox to release him, she could also probably ask why it came here in the first place - were they, unknowingly, trespassing on his territory? Maldwyn couldn't think of other possibilities - his knowledge about most animals was rather limited.
"Um..." Krysta blinked and looked to the fox, who had cocked his head to the side to watch them. "Hello." She waved a little awkwardly, and the fox's tongue lolled from the side of his mouth. "Were we, um, disturbing you?"
The fox blinked, then yipped quickly, ears flicking.
The princess's breath hitched quietly and looked to Maldwyn. "He heard your playing and he wanted to see what was happening. He's never seen a pixie before, and he wasn't sure if we were dangerous."
Maldwyn listened intently. He couldn't make anything out of the fox's sounds, although he guessed that the movement of the ears was just as important to conveying the message as the sounds. Still, he wouldn't have been able to understand this strange 'speech', let alone figure out how to ask a question. The Princess' gift was truly an unique one.
His first instinct was to make an offer - if it was the first time the curious fox saw one of their kind, it was a prime opportunity to show him that the pixies of Dreamhaven meant no harm to the animals of Niahi Woods. But perhaps it was better not to immediately take flight to show the animal the wings and more - he didn't want to alarm the fox and get pinned down again. It was better to ask the Princess before trying something.
"Would you ask him a question from me?
Should we put on a little show?
I could fly around for him to see
Next time he meets us, he would know."
Krysta's eyes lit up at the suggestion and she nodded, translating to their vulpine companion.
The fox tilted his head and settled down with a soft yap, crossing his paws over each other. The princess chuckled and fluttered a little higher into the air, pulling Maldwyn with her by the hand.
The minstrel laughed with joy, taking flight. Music and stories were his true passion, but flying was something he deeply appreciated as well. There was something truly magical about soaring through the air, free from the jealous pull of the ground. He felt bad for the fox and all the other poor animals who could never taste this freedom.
He wasn't so adept at flying that he could do somersaults in the air like his neighbour Hollyhock could, but he could still make a full circle around the head of the fox. Then he rejoined the princess in floating in front of the animal.
Krysta found herself laughing as well, circling around him briefly in a blur of silver and green before pausing to hover in front of the fox again, whose tongue was lolling as his tail wagged and he yipped playfully at them.
She chuckled again. "I think he likes us!"
Maldwyn couldn't deny it, he was quite excited about making such a strange new friend. Oh, he was familiar with plenty of tales and songs featuring animal companions and bonds transcending the limitations of species, but he never experienced it himself! The tips of his wings were fluttering with excitement at the thought. He wondered if the fox would recognize them again, should they venture into the Niahi Woods once more. And he should make the same level of effort - he stared intently at their new friend, trying to etch his form into his mind and find some characteristics that could help him distinguish him from all the others of his kind - the shape of his ears, the length of his tail, the texture of his fur.
Of course, there was one ritual of first meetings that they were yet to perform. He turned back to the Princess, squashing back the anxiety about asking her to do all the talking - he couldn't communicate with the fox, there was only one way to handle this.
"I can't speak to him, to my shame
But could you ask about his name?"
The princess brightened at the request, and she giggled softly as she fluttered over to perch on the crown of the animal's head. The fox yapped and swished his tail back and forth, tongue lolling.
"I'm Krysta," she told him, then gestured to her companion. "That's Maldwyn. What's your name?"
The fox paused, then gave a growling little huff and a sound rather reminiscent of the sneeze. Krysta nodded and took to the air again.
"They don't really have names the way we do," she translated for the minstrel, "but he says we can call him Brier. He got stuck in a brier patch as a kit and got a nickname from it, sort of."
He nodded with acknowledgement. That made sense - even though most pixies he knew used the names given to them by either parents or others, some chose to change it to better reflect their life and achievements, or adopted adequate monikers. That included his own mother, Caerwyn the Candlelight - her title was one she bore for over twenty years. It was one she won in a game her friends organized when a few human travelers strayed too close to Dreamhaven. The rules were simple: steer a moth mount as close as possible to the flames of torches and lamps humans bore, but do not get noticed or set on fire. While Caerwyn has achieved far more ever since, she kept her old title out of pure pettiness - as long as she held onto it, the only way for another pixie to claim this name would be to beat her record. And it's been a while since any humans wandered close enough to Dreamhaven...
He quickly found his way back to reality, lest he become completely lost in thought. He turned his attention back to Brier, who was watching them with a... curious expression? It was hard to read a fox's body language, even harder since he didn't have any wings. How were they supposed to find out if he was happy if he didn't have wings to flutter with joy? Perhaps he should rely on the Princess for this as well.
Krysta was chatting amiably with the fox while Maldwyn seemed lost in his own thoughts. She'd settled herself on a mushroom cap, legs tucked to the side and wings shivering lightly every few seconds, betraying the intensity of her interest.
Brier, for his part, had settled himself down in front of her and was huffing and yipping in turns as she chattered at him, ears cocked and tail swishing gently.
The princess glanced up at her companion after a few moments, smiling. "He wants us to come back and visit. I'm sure we can, right?" True, it wasn't exactly easy to slip away from royal duties, but she was sure she'd manage somehow.
He nodded with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.
"I swear, we'll come to visit you.
By the stars' light, I'll see this through."
Of course, almost as soon as those words left his lips, he began to worry about actually fulfilling this promise. What if despite his best efforts, he wouldn't be able to tell Brier from other foxes, and got eaten? What if he gets lost in the woods? And even if he managed to find his new friend, he couldn't exactly talk to him like the Princess could - and her duties in the castle would probably keep her far busier. Maldwyn couldn't possibly expect the Princess of Dreamhaven to accompany him every time he went out to the woods!
Krysta beamed and the fox yipped happily. "See? It's a promise," the princess said with a happy flutter of her wings as she hovered before the animal's nose and patted his snout affectionately.
But it seemed their adventure had to be coming to an end. She glanced up, noticed the angle of the sunlight, and looked back to Maldwyn with a small pout. "We should head back, before we're missed."
He glanced cautiously towards the sun. Out of all celestial bodies, this was one he got along with least - its absolute, controlling dominance of the diurnal sky was too overbearing for him to deal with. It was good that the Princess kept the time in mind. Next time, he would have to try it too - perhaps his mother could suggest him a way of measuring the passage of time.
He carefully picked up his lute, putting it back in the case. It would be stupid to forget and later have to come back here later. He almost reflexively performed an appropriate farewell bow, but foxes probably had a completely different etiquette to consider! How should he say farewell? What if it was some sort of a tail move? He didn't even have a tail!
Whatever Maldwyn was doing, the fox seemed to understand the gist, particularly as Krysta buzzed around his head and chirped, "Bye bye!"
Fluttering back to the minstrel, she grabbed his hand and started towing him after her. "C'mon, we should hurry!"
Maldwyn followed. Most of the time, he'd just fly up and let the Princess drag him, but his wings were getting tired. He just tried to keep up, especially since he couldn't find the way back on his own. He was too busy looking around and admiring the beauty of nature to keep track of their surroundings - and he's never used this route before!
"The sun is slowly fleeing the sky,
As our shadows longer grow
The moon's ascent drawing ever nigh
Will we make it? Do you know?"
"Oh we'll be fine," Krysta chuckled almost as soon as the words were out of his mouth. She was getting used to his odd speech patterns. "My parents hardly ever notice what I actually do all day, as long as I'm where they expect me to be by dinner," she added with a roll of her eyes.
That was very surprising. Why go to the whole trouble of making a child if one was to just ignore her existence wholeheartedly - save for dinner, of course? Or perhaps ruling Dreamhaven was so busy and time-consuming, the royal couple couldn't even find time for their only daughter? It was such a heartbreaking situation.
His shadow was staring at him in an accusatory manner, as if trying to urge him on while the sun was still up. He quickly followed. Maldwyn wasn't as constrained by time - his mother was quite used to him coming back late at this point. But he still didn't want to get the Princess in trouble - especially with the Queen and King! They had to make it back to the palace in time.
"Your life sounds so lonely indeed
So, do you sneak out every day?
If castle lacks that which you need
Secret trips are the only way..."
"Oh!" Blushing suddenly as she realized it had sounded like she was complaining, Krysta stuttered in her flight for a moment and shook her head, waving her hands quickly. "No no, it's not that bad, really! Just...they're busy, that's all. I'm not lonely or anything."
She smiled, and as she did she realized she was lying.
Reasonably uncomfortable with that discovery, she cleared her throat and looked ahead again. "Let's just say I sneak out enough that I know the quickest way back," she chuckled a little sheepishly.
Maldwyn nodded in assent. The more he learned about Princess Krysta, the more alike she seemed to all the rebellious royals from the ballads, sneaking out of their castles in disguise and mingling with the common folk (and foxes, in this case). She said that she wasn't lonely, so that was probably right - in all the stories, such status-defying highborn had a lot of friends across the boundaries of class - and species, in Krysta's case.
This mushroom looked familiar! He wished he could know whether it was because he passed it by when leaving the secret tunnel, or if he remembered it from a previous trip to the woods. Perhaps he should begin to pay more attention to his surroundings - in a way different than drawing inspiration, that is.
Krysta remained relatively quiet as she led Maldwyn back to the tunnel, eventually fluttering down to the ground and gesturing for him to stick close as she ducked back into the entrance.
The minstrel followed the princess, doing his best to remember his surroundings in case of the future trips. It was hard to keep himself from becoming distracted by the beauty of nature, and definitely wasn't something he would want to repeat! What was the point of being outside if he couldn't even draw inspiration from his surroundings? He released a sigh of relief when they reached the tunnel.
This time, he kept his wings carefully squished close to his body, to prevent the repeat of the incident from last time. He moved slowly in order not to bump into the Princess, and did his best to stay quiet. He didn't know how far they were from the castle entrance, and didn't want to alert guards.
Feeling more than seeing Maldwyn moving along beside her, Krysta reached out and took his hand in the gloom of the tunnel.
"Just a bit further," she encouraged softly. Her silver hair and wings seemed to glow slightly as the light of the sun faded from view. By the time they got back to the palace grounds, it would likely be moonrise.
It was dark inside the tunnel, but he could feel the sky's nature shift from reflected radiance into quieter sort of darkness, and what followed. The soothing influence of the moon flowed through him and pulled him away from the emotional axis and into the rational one. Now he could remember clearer the last time they've gone through, the specific length of the tunnel and how close they were to the castle. He knew he could still speak quietly, and not be overheard by the patrolling guards.
"Do we still have enough time?7
When does your family dine?
I didn't hear the night chime...
But I can sense the moon's shine..."
"Oh, we'll be alright," Krysta assured with a quick smile. "It's only just moonrise. As long as we hurry, we can be back in the main hall before my parents ever realize we were gone."
The minstrel nodded. Sneaking around wasn't his forte - it was in his nature to make music, not to stay silent. But if he got caught, being an accomplice to the Princess' outings could cost him his position as the court minstrel - or perhaps, depending on how angry the Queen and the King were, he could even get exiled from Dreamhaven.
So he reined his impatience in and carefully moved within the tunnel, without making a sound. Whenever Krysta stopped, he waited without asking - they were probably close to the castle, and he didn't want to draw the guards' attention. He would let her take the lead - she's done it before, she knew best what to do.
As they neared the entrance to the tunnel, Krysta reached back to take Maldwyn's hand and pulled him with her out into the dusky light, glancing around the gardens quickly before she started darting back toward the castle.
"This way, we can slip in through the lower kitchens," she murmured.
Maldwyn nodded, quietly impressed with the level of forethought that went into planning this trip. He had questions, but rather than ask immediately, without any forethought, he listened. His only answer was the whisper of the wind. There was no one around to overhear them, it should be safe to speak.
"How should we handle the servants there?
Won't our appearance be a surprise?
Or shall we move quietly as spies?
To sneak through kitchens I am prepared"
"Oh, no need." The princess shot him a quick smile as she fluttered down the winding garden paths. "The kitchen staff know me well enough by now, they're used to it."
The minstrel nodded, acknowledging her words. It surely sounded useful, not having to sneak around and hide from people in at least one part of the castle. He wondered if the servants there knew that the princess was disobeying their parents and still took the risk to help her, or if she gave them a different reason. If it was the former, it meant she inspired impressive loyalty, at least greater than the royal couple did. If it was the latter, then she was quite clever.
He followed her into the kitchen, content to let her show him the way.
As they slipped back into the palace, Krysta took a quick look around before snatching something that looked like a pastry off a kitchen counter.
No sooner had she touched it when a voice snapped out, "And just what do you think you're doin?"
Maldwyn entered the kitchen, relaxing slightly at the concept of not having to sneak around. He was a minstrel, not a thief - his role was to make sound, not serve silence. The sight and smell of food did make him a bit hungry - they were in the royal kitchens after all - but he would not steal from his Queen.
It was different for the Princess, of course, and so he was quite surprised to hear someone scold her for taking what was rightfully hers. He turned towards the source of the voice, frowning.
" Now, still your voice and open your eyes
Do you not know to whom you speak?
Your hasty wording is unwise
Against the Princess falls your critique
You would deny her morsel she prefers
When all Dreamhaven is rightfully hers?"
"Oh." Krysta went very red and laid a dainty hand on Maldwyn's shoulder as the rather plump little cook who'd caught her act of theft fluttered into the room. "No no, it's alright. This is--"
"Names Holly." The elderly pixie narrowed her eyes at the minstrel. "And just who might you be, serah, to be actin' so high and mighty on behalf of the little thief?"
She was right, he should introduce himself. He was just made the court minstrel, he couldn't expect everyone to know who he was - especially kitchen staff. He performed an etiquette-appropriate bow - while he couldn't expect the cook to be familiar with all details of decorum, it was good to make it an habit.
"Please forgive me my earlier outburst
For I have acted ill in comport
I should have given you my name first
I'm Maldwyn Starsong, bard of the court"
"Oh, you're alright, lad." Holly chuckled, immediately transforming into a kindly grandmother rather than the elderly avenging angel she had been moments before. "You're the new one, right? Welcome to palace life." She spread her arms grandly-- then slapped Krysta's hand as the princess tried to surreptitiously sneak another treat. "Oi! None of that, miss!"
"Hol-ly." Krysta pouted at her.
"Oh, don't you try those baby bunny eyes on me," the cook sniffed. "Off with you now, before you spoil your supper. You, new lad." She huffed. "Keep an eye on the wee devil."
Maldwyn nodded - looked like they were close to the supper time. He couldn't see any windows to look out of, and certainly the kitchen wouldn't be equipped with any timekeeping charms. But the staff here was well-familiarised with the routine life in the castle, they would know how long they had. He glanced around to find a door - the place was quite busy, and with everyone flitting about, it was easy to get confused. He was about to give up and ask the Princess when he saw it.
Holly noticed his search and pointed helpfully, before placing one broad hand at each of their backs, right between the wings, and pushing softly. "Now shoo! If you want some food, missy, why not wait a few minutes for the dinner? Your stomach won't collapse in this time!"
Krysta made a face at the cook, but she was smiling as she grabbed Maldwyn's hand and towed him back through the kitchens. "Come on, let's hurry and get ready."
The minstrel followed her, glad to be back within the castle walls. Now he didn't have to sneak around - footsteps shouldn't arouse suspicion, as there were a lot of servants scurrying around. They would still have to take care not to be seen, of course, but at least he didn't have to worry about the sound. That was a relief.
He heard someone coming - a faint sound that only reached his ears through the sharpened senses the stars granted him this night. He brought up a finger to his lips in a sign of silence, motioning to the direction the footsteps were coming from. They had to hide, quick.
The princess froze, eyes going wide, and spun to face Maldwyn. He was right, they needed to make themselves scarce.
Grabbing his hand again, she mouthed, This way, and snapped her wings open to hover into the air, heading for an alcove with a thin, slatted window where hopefully they could tuck themselves into the curve and hide in the shadows.
They waited, with bated breath, as the guard passed. Maldwyn's wings began to get really uncomfortable, pressed tightly together to fit in the alcove. They would be really sore tomorrow from all the exertion, but he would live.
Immediately after the guard rounded the corner, he left the alcove, fluttering above the floor on his wings so that he wouldn't make a sound. It would be less tiring to just wait and walk, but they didn't have time for that. He could feel the slow labour of celestial bodies across the sky, he didn't even need to look outside the window.
Fortunately, they were getting close. Today was the first time he visited the castle, but he remembered this hallway. They would soon reach their destination.
Krysta waited until she was sure the coast was clear, then let out a breathless little chuckle and shot Maldwyn a quick grin. "close call," she murmured, fluttering off down the hallway again.
"C'mon. If we hurry, we can beat mother and father to the dining hall."
Maldwyn quietly landed on the floor, his mind already considering her choice of words. 'We'? The steward didn't say that he'd need to play for the royal couple during dinner - but no, he was probably overthinking it. It was the proper wording to use - after all, the two of them were still working together. This sudden attention for detail meant that the Star of the Ram must have risen high in the sky, its glow penetrating the walls of the castle and enhancing his perception. Good - they would need it to avoid more attention. As they made their way through the hallways, he focused on memorizing the surroundings.
The princess kept up her stealth as they picked the way down the hall, but once they'd reached a more open area-- a pavilion that poked through the branches of the great willow-- she relaxed, glancing back at her companion with a bright grin.
"Alright, I think we're clear. The dining hall is just down that hall, and the kitchens are that way." She pointed, hesitated, then said with a sigh, "You'll probably be more comfortable eating in the kitchens, I suppose. The dining hall is...stuffy."
Maldwyn didn't know the interior of the castle well enough to tell the difference, but he noticed the change in the Princess' posture - she relaxed and appeared to be more at ease. That meant they must have gotten close to their target - close enough that even if someone saw her, she could just claim to be on her way to the dining hall.
He nodded in affirmation. She was right - the steward didn't say anything about introducing him to the royal couple this day, just the princess. It was better not to interfere with the plans of the court.
"Aye, you are right, there I shall go
Is it then time for us to part?
You were a true honour to know
I shall retain it in my heart."
"Oh, well, um..." Krysta flushed a bit and tugged at a lock of her hair. "It was good to meet you too, Maldwyn. I...hope I'll see you often around the palace."
She smiled, then fluttered a few inches into the air and turned to make her way toward the dining hall, twisting in the air to wave at him as she went.