"The woman that belonged to the boots was Queen Hemlock. The Queen of the Moss Maidens. This ancient queen hated the Hunter King and Queen Huntress. The pair and their hunting group had always sought to trap and kill the moss maidens. What a great prize to be had to hang on their castle walls. And somehow, the prince knew this. But what did it matter? He was in so much pain?"
A private roleplay only for those invited by the first writer
"There was more rustling from the woods even as the day grew brighter. Queen Hemlock snapped her twig-like fingers and suddenly many a tall and young female materialized from the wood. Sporting clothing of leaves and moss. Their skin with a green sheen. Eyes wild and fierce like fireflies or glowing embers. Their footsteps nearly silent among the roots and dried leaves on the ground."
"They gathered around the prince and lifted him up gently. Following Hemlock's direction, they carried the prince back into the twisted dark wood. Further and further from the veil and from the castle. And deeper into the depths of the forest. The prince tried to stay awake but found his eyes getting heavier and heavier."
Rose relaxed a little and lay back down. Still holding onto her unicorn, though.
Rose relaxed a little and lay back down. Still holding onto her unicorn, though.
"He awoke on a large, stone slab just beneath the massive moss-covered branches of an oak tree. The moss maidens surrounded him and were chanting something very strange. His eyes searched swiftly for Queen Hemlock. She stood nearby, also chanting something in a language he didn't understand. It sounded something between the sounds of chittering squirrels and rustling leaves on a windy, fall day."
"Then a quiet voice inside his head. Because you killed the Huntress Queen, we are in your debt. As part of that debt, we will heal you, boy. Do not take this gift lightly. After you are healed, you will remember none of this. Nor how to find us again. The boy found himself relaxing, as a deep sleep suddenly came over him"
"And then he had a dream. The Queen of the moss maidens loomed over him. And as he sat from the stone slab, he realized nothing hurt. The wounds from the hunting party were gone. His fingers even dropped, feeling his freshly knitted and healed skin. Holes along his clothing still remained, where the swords had pierced his back and chest."
"For a moment, he thought Queen Hemlock was smiling at him. Or perhaps it was a grimace. Wait, he called out and she seemed...surprised. Please. The Hunter King has my sister. Is there anyway I can save her? The Queen of the Moss Maidens studied the boy silently and for a very long time."
"A shake of her willowy head down at the boy. Your sister is lost, she replied solemnly. Would be best for you to move on. And with that, the prince awoke in a field of wildflowers just outside the dark wood. He had no memory of the Queen of the Moss Maidens. But he did remember the Hunter King. And his sister and the fight that took place. Gasping, he looked down at his shirt and was surprised to see no wound on his person. Standing, he began making his way back to the castle."
Rose grumbled, "But he's just going to give up on his sister?"
"You'll see munchkin. Will you let me continue the story?"
Rose squirmed, "Okayokay. But I hope this one has a happy ending."
Sierra ruffled her daughter's hair and then continued. "The prince rushed back home. It took him longer without a horse. A few days and nights. And by the time he came home the moon was growing thinner and thinner."
"You'll see munchkin. Will you let me continue the story?"
Rose squirmed, "Okayokay. But I hope this one has a happy ending."
Sierra ruffled her daughter's hair and then continued. "The prince rushed back home. It took him longer without a horse. A few days and nights. And by the time he came home the moon was growing thinner and thinner."
"As the boy entered the castle, he found that his family was still under the spell and still asleep. No matter what he did, he couldn't wake them. And he knew then that he'd have to go back and face the Hunter King. So, he packed a bag and saddled up another horse and went back on his way. He retraced his steps from the week before, praying to any that listened that he'd be able to find the castle again."
Rose started to yawn.
Fingers balled into a little fist and rubbed at her sleepy eyes.
Rose started to yawn.
Fingers balled into a little fist and rubbed at her sleepy eyes.
"He raced through the fields and small towns. And when he got to the dark wood, he could've sworn he heard a howl pierce through the night air. But that didn't stop him. Oh no, he went twisting and riding through the dark forest. Even as it became harder to see without a full or even half moon in the sky above."
Rose's eyes began to close and stay closed now.
Sierra began to quiet her voice as she continued the story.
Rose's eyes began to close and stay closed now.
Sierra began to quiet her voice as she continued the story.
"And just when the prince was about to give up, he came to the clearing where the castle in the middle of the dark wood stood. And the drawbridge was down. Strange that no one was guarding it. And no one seemed to be around. Without thinking too much, he pushed his horse forward, determined to see if his sister was still alive. Determined to get some answers. Answers that would hopefully free his family."
Rose's breathing began to deepen and slow.
With a small smile, Sierra stood and kissed her daughter gently on her forehead.
Rose's breathing began to deepen and slow.
With a small smile, Sierra stood and kissed her daughter gently on her forehead.
Sierra's grey eyes lifted to the window outside. The lights were off in the barn and she knew Cillian would already be on his way back to the house. And she couldn't explain it but she felt where he was. Perhaps a hint of amusement she felt run through the bond.
Had he heard the story?
She knew fae had good hearing and she had to wonder how good.
Had he heard the story?
She knew fae had good hearing and she had to wonder how good.
Tucking Rose in and turning off the light, she edged quietly from her daughter's room. Closing the door slowly behind her, she left it cracked to let some of the warm light from the hall filter in. Without lingering too long, she turned and made her way downstairs.
Sierra had to check the state of the dishes from dinner.
She'd made Cillian swear not to wash them. It was the least she could do since the man kept them well fed.
Sierra had to check the state of the dishes from dinner.
She'd made Cillian swear not to wash them. It was the least she could do since the man kept them well fed.
The next night found Rose with a lot of extra energy to burn off. Her little feet were bouncing on the bed as her dark hair flew wildly with every hop.
"Mom!"
Bounce.
"Tonight I hope the prince saves his.."
Hop.
"Sister and his whole.."
Bounce and her little arms flow wide into the air.
"family! And beat that mean Hunter King!"
"Mom!"
Bounce.
"Tonight I hope the prince saves his.."
Hop.
"Sister and his whole.."
Bounce and her little arms flow wide into the air.
"family! And beat that mean Hunter King!"
Sierra blamed the candy from the Troll's shop in town. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she almost wished to face off an elven army than this.
The pent up and wild energy of her growing daughter.
"Rose. If you don't stop bouncing on the bed and settle down, you won't be hearing the end of the story."
Rose took one more hop with a concerned look on her little face. Then stopped, still standing and balancing on her mattress. Then suddenly plopped down, cross-legged on the bed.
"Okay," she huffed.
The pent up and wild energy of her growing daughter.
"Rose. If you don't stop bouncing on the bed and settle down, you won't be hearing the end of the story."
Rose took one more hop with a concerned look on her little face. Then stopped, still standing and balancing on her mattress. Then suddenly plopped down, cross-legged on the bed.
"Okay," she huffed.
“Come on wiggle worm. Under the covers.”
Rose giggled and squirmed beneath the sheets. Her feet bounced up and down beneath the fabric. Sierra reached over the bed and handed Rose her favorite unicorn.
Rose played with it on the bend, pretending it was prancing around.
“Now where were we?” Sierra asked Rose.
Rose giggled and squirmed beneath the sheets. Her feet bounced up and down beneath the fabric. Sierra reached over the bed and handed Rose her favorite unicorn.
Rose played with it on the bend, pretending it was prancing around.
“Now where were we?” Sierra asked Rose.
Sierra leaned forward and patted Rose’s foot. Rose’s face squished in concentration. “But when the prince came to the castle no one was there. At least, not yet. Oh! And the bridge was down,” she looked to her mom in confirmation.
Sierra smiled and nodded. “Very good. The prince arrived on a dark night to what he thought was an empty castle.”
Sierra smiled and nodded. “Very good. The prince arrived on a dark night to what he thought was an empty castle.”
Rose’s fingers began to fidget less around her toy. Her full attention went to her mother. Waiting patiently for the rest of the story. An eager shine to her blue eyes.
“The brave prince crossed the drawbridge and into the keep. It was empty. He dismounted his horse and took Out his sword, making his way into the castle.”
“The brave prince crossed the drawbridge and into the keep. It was empty. He dismounted his horse and took Out his sword, making his way into the castle.”
“He swept through long hallways decorated with the heads of strange and mythical creatures. Large tapestries that stretched from floor to ceiling lined the walls. Thick rugs from Amol-kalit cushioned his footsteps. He heard noise down the hall. But he didn’t stop.”
“The prince marched forward. He was determined now.”
“The prince marched forward. He was determined now.”
“Two large doors were opened at the end of the great hall. Through many sitting rooms of all sizes. Past large crackling fire places that were big enough to dance in.”
“Marching forward, he swept into the last room. It was a large throne room. And there sat the Hunter King, waiting. As if for the prince himself. A cruel smile curled on the king’s face. All the hunters were gathered as well. And they faced the boy with the sword.”
“Marching forward, he swept into the last room. It was a large throne room. And there sat the Hunter King, waiting. As if for the prince himself. A cruel smile curled on the king’s face. All the hunters were gathered as well. And they faced the boy with the sword.”
“Please, the boy’s voice cracked as he stepped further inside. Where is she? I will trade my life for hers. That’s all I want. His eyes roved around the room, looking for any sign of her.”
“The Hunter King stood and stalked toward the boy like a cat playing with a mouse before eating it. His figure loomed over the prince. Completely dismissing the sword in his hands. You would trade your life for her own?”
“The Hunter King stood and stalked toward the boy like a cat playing with a mouse before eating it. His figure loomed over the prince. Completely dismissing the sword in his hands. You would trade your life for her own?”