The Heartland Fae village was bustling with people as the tribe prepared for the coming wedding. Traders bartered for goods along the central square, cooks and butchers prepared meats and vegetables, and Bianca and Sha'ani walked along as onlookers showered Sha'ani with well wishes. As Bianca looked towards the grand tree that stood proudly over the entire tribe, she had hopes for the future of her sister. In mere hours, Sha'ani and Konalan would stand in its shadow and Verathron would marry them, opening a new chapter in their lives.
Yet one thought nagged away at Bianca's mind; the Wolf. How someone who could have collected so much money was mere seconds from killing her. His blade was right in front of her face, poised to strike, and he would have been a wealthy man. He didn't kill her. He just walked away as though Bianca weren't worth the trouble it would take to slay her. Should she have been offended? Terrified?
"Are you still thinking about the Wolf?" Sha'ani cut through Bianca's thoughts. Bianca blinked and looked to her sister who walked beside her.
"Nah," Bianca lied. "Just musing about how amazing I'll look in that dress when I stand beside you before Konalan takes you away," she said with a grin.
Sha'ani beamed. "A Faerie wedding doesn't happen every day, you know. Of course, I suspect I won't be the only one of us having a great time tonight."
Those words caught Bianca's interest. "What do you mean?"
Sha'ani crossed her arms and smirked. "As a hunter of the Heartland Fae, Bianca, my eyes see many things. A trio of wolves in the distance as I ride with my lover, a quail perched on an unearthed root of a mighty oak tree, or," she reached around Bianca's waist and pulled her close, directing her attention to a muscular Faerie man carrying an elk over his shoulders. The man turned back, his raven hair draped over his shoulders and amber eyes looking at Bianca as a smile crossed his face. "How Kotaro has been eyeing you each time you walk past."
Kotaro was Konalan's sworn brother, a friend close enough to be considered family, and he too would be standing among them at the ceremony. There was an old Fae wive's tale regarding the ones who gave the bride and groom away. Those who stood beside the two pledged to be married would find themselves together, as well. Bianca had often thought highly of him, considering he was one of the best warriors in the tribe. "Has he now?" Bianca asked.
"Why do you think I was insistent on you being my Giver? We share everything, so I wanted to share this night with you." Bianca was taken aback by Sha'ani's generosity.
Always an idealist, a hopeless romantic even, but Bianca had never been afforded the chance to pursue a partner. "Sha'ani, that's--" She stammered, her eyes trailing up and down Kotaro's chiseled form as he laid the elk on the butcher's slab and waved towards the two sisters. "Wow…"
"Feel free to praise me at any time," Sha'ani said, pushing her face up against Bianca's.
Bianca raised her hand up as though she were raising a glass. "So be it! May we both bid farewell to chastity tonight, my darling sister. Most generous, gracious Sha'ani. Cheers!"
Sha'ani laughed and playfully nudged Bianca, letting go and stepping away. "I need to go see Segala. My dress should be ready by now. You ought to go grab yours and prepare for the ceremony. Only three hours until sunset!" With that, Sha'ani dashed off to one of the hollowed out trees that made up the homes of the Heartland Fae.
Bianca walked through the market, seeing the various goods the Fae traded. Bows and arrows, axes and knives made of stone, clothing made from animal hides. What stood out most, however, was the food. Roasted quail sandwiches with bread made from grain grown within the forest, slabs of elk and deer meat, fresh vegetables, and all the mushrooms one could ask for. Nothing rivaled Faerie cooking. Even before she was taken in by the Heartland Fae, she was raised on some dishes inspired by their cuisine. It felt like home to her.
Her musings were interrupted when a slight tug on her tunic held back her steps. She turned, expecting to see another Faerie, but instead beheld an Elf of all things. Dressed in scholarly robes decorated in blue and silver, she wore a pair of thick glasses and kept her hair obscuring her eyes and ears. "Excuse me, do you think you could help me? I'm trying to do some research for the college, but I'm having a hard time getting anyone to speak with me."
"Hey!" Sha'ani suddenly appeared, startling the Elf who covered her ears with her hands and dropped her notebook. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Segala needs just a bit longer to get the necklace done. What's going on?"
"She needs help with some research. Are you with the College of Autumn's Gate?" Bianca asked.
The Elf nodded. "Y-yes. My name is Aquila Florentina. I'm a historian and cultural scholar of the College of Autumn's Gate. I'm doing a thesis for Professor Lambur, and I chose the culture of Faerie tribes as my subject. I thought I could find some information here--"
"But no one will talk to you?" Bianca interrupted. Aquila frowned and lowered her head.
"Umm, please don't interrupt me. I am not good with words, and dislike trying to find my place again." The Elf probably wanted to sound angry, but it came off more like she was sad. It made sense that no one would speak with her considering the history between Elves and Fae. "Can I ask some questions, please?"
Bianca looked to Sha'ani who merely smiled and nodded. "Sure! Fire away," she said.
Aquila squinted, looked around, then opened her eyes wide as she bent down to pick up her notebook and opened it. "Sorry, I wasn't sure what you meant by 'fire away.' How do Faeries get those antlers?" Straight away with the basics. Those were the telltale signs of a Fae, after all.
Sha'ani grinned. "Oh, those actually appear naturally over time. Usually you can tell a lot from a Fae's antlers and tattoos depending on how thick or intricate they are. For example, if a Faerie has smaller, thinner antlers like mine, they're mostly built for speed and precision while someone with large antlers like my mate or our tribe's leader is stronger physically. Speaking of mates, they play a part in mating, too. Faerie women will often go for men with large, thick antlers while men will often go for women with longer, thinner ones. Let's just say there's a reason 'take your girl by the horns' is such a popular euphemism here." She winked.
Aquila kept scribbling in her notebook, muttering to herself. "What's a staple in your diet, if I may ask?"
"Meat. Lots of it. We primarily hunt our own food and trade for what we need since Faeries don't use currency. Quail and wolf also play a part in our diet. Oh! One delicacy we have is a dish called 'Bear's Head Stew.' Usually served only at weddings." Sha'ani was going to say more when she gasped and smiled. "Hey! Why don't you come to the wedding tonight? You can experience some really good culture, have some food, maybe a man?" Sha'ani wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, earning a chuckle from Bianca and a blush from Aquila.
"Hey, thought I told you to clear out!" A shrill voice came from behind Bianca as she looked towards the source. "Don't need another Elf skulking about, you hear me?" The Faerie woman reached a long, skinny arm towards the Elf and grabbed her. Aquila recoiled in fear, clutching her shoulders.
Bianca grabbed the woman's hand and shoved it away. "Back off, Kalara. She's just here on a research project. You know, learning about our people?"
Kalara brushed her short, black hair back and grunted in disgust. "I figured you'd have learned enough after you enslaved us for centuries." The Faerie woman glared at Aquila, who began to turn to retreat from the situation when Sha'ani took the Elf by the hand.
"And what do you mean 'our people,' mongrel? You're sure as hell not a Fae." Kalara spat.
Sha'ani put herself between Kalara and Bianca. "She's as much Fae as any of us, Kalara. You'd best remember that."
The black-haired Faerie spat on the ground and sneered. "The only reason I'm not kicking your ass, red-haired bitch, is cause it's your wedding day. Any other time--"
"That's enough, all of you." A voice came from an old Faerie man as he approached. Tan and muscular, and robes of hides and tree bark, Verathorn walked to the altercation. "Kalara, I will not abide by this behavior. Cease speaking to the Elf and return to your duties." Verathorn motioned towards the butcher's slab where the half-prepared body of one of the wolves that Bianca had nearly been killed by lay. Kalara scoffed, but relented as she returned to her work.
"Elf, I am afraid you must take your leave. My warriors will escort you to the entrance to the village. You have adequate transportation back to your college, yes?" Verathorn asked.
Aquila nodded. "Yes." That was all she could say.
Bianca was about to turn away when a nagging question suddenly burst forth in her brain. "Master Verathorn, Kalara mentioned something regarding an Elf skulking around. What did she mean by that?"
"You haven't heard?" Bianca's attention was turned towards Konalan, the Faerie man standing with an axe in hand. "Someone spotted an Elvhen scout this morning. When our hunters approached, the Elf vanished. We're not sure where it went."
"Yes, and there's something else as well. Senhua and Tillian have not returned from their hunt this morning." Verathorn's and Konalan's words gave Bianca some worry.
Sha'ani frowned and crossed her arms. "Should we postpone the wedding? I feel as though we should go after them."
"It's alright, Sha'ani. Knowing them, they're probably pursuing the Elf. That's how those two have always been. They see prey, they chase it." Konalan assured his bride to be. That made some sense. The two wives, always in fervent pursuit of game and enemies alike, would fight to the death to keep the tribe safe. "Come, let's prepare."
"Very well, Konalan." Sha'ani sighed.
Konalan leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. "My heart is yours."
She smiled. "My heart is yours." The betrothed pair took each other's hands and walked towards Sha'ani's home, likely to see if her dress was finally completed. Bianca reckoned that she, too, should begin her preparations. Sha'ani's wedding was just hours away.
---
Nearly every soul who could attend the wedding stood beneath the massive tree that towered over the tribe's village. Men, women, children, and elders all stood watching as Konalan, Kotaro, and Verathorn waited at the end of the path made by the Fae who were positioned on either side. Bianca walked beside Sha'ani, the former having exchanged her usual tunic and breeches for a dress made from deer hides and vines that formed beautiful, intricate patterns along her garb.
Sha'ani, however, was a thing of magnificence. Her gown was made from pure white elk hide, a necklace of wolf claws and eagle feathers adorned her neck, and a crown of flowers that wove around her antlers perfectly. Men would go to war over Sha'ani's beauty, Bianca thought. As they reached the end of their walk, Sha'ani turned to face her groom, and a sense of pride and joy washed over Bianca. How honored she was to give her sister away as the only family she had.
"My children!" Verathorn's voice boomed, signifying the beginning of the ceremony. "Just as Segovax brought our people together on this world, so too do we bring together these two souls. Two children of the Sea of Green, choosing to love and cherish one another above all else, is a sight to behold and adore. Konalan, step forward." Verathorn bade Konalan walk towards him, and he did so.
"My chief," Konalan struck his fist to his chest and bowed.
Verathorn nodded. "Sha'ani, step forward."
She did the same, striking her fist just above her left breast and bowing to him. "My chief."
"Bianca. Kotaro. Step forward." He held out both hands, each one bearing a large seed, and Bianca walked towards him as Kotaro did the same. "Who gives these two to be wed?"
"I, Bianca of the Heartland Fae tribe, do give Sha'ani to Konalan as her sworn sister." Bianca spoke, and took the seed from Verathorn's hand.
"I, Kotaro of the Heartland Fae tribe, do give Konalan to Sha'ani as his sworn brother." Kotaro did the same, and the pair handed the seeds to their respective partner. Sha'ani took the seed from Bianca's hand, and she could have sworn she saw a tear fall from her sister's face as she smiled.
The betrothed rose up, holding the seeds to their hearts as Verathorn retrieved his staff from his back and slammed it into the ground, twice. Both times, a small hole appeared before Sha'ani and Konalan, and he bade the two kneel beside it.
"Konalan of the Heartland Fae, do you pledge yourself to Sha'ani? To fight beside her. To cherish her and care for her. Will you stand at her side, for good or for ill, as long as you draw the breath of life?" Verathorn asked.
"I pledge to her." There was no hesitation, no doubt, in Konalan's voice.
Now, Verathorn turned to Sha'ani. "Sha'ani of the Heartland Fae, do you pledge yourself to Konalan? To fight beside him? To cherish and care for him? Will you stand at his side, for good or for ill, as long as you draw the breath of life?"
"I pledge to him." Sha'ani's voice cracked, but all heard her declaration.
Verathorn tapped his staff on their shoulders, once on each side, and the betrothed planted their seed into the hole opposite of them. They buried the seeds under the soil, and Verathorn struck each newly planted mound as two small saplings began to grow and intertwine. Then, as quickly as they grew, they withered into husks that formed an intricate knotwork of vines. They split from their bases, and Verathorn picked them up and fashioned them into rings. Sliding them onto each other's left forearm, the ceremony was nearly complete.
"Then in the name of Segovax, the dragon who brought our people unity, and as chief of the Heartland Fae, I declare this couple wed. Go, and receive your mate." Verathorn spoke with authority, and Konalan reached for Sha'ani's face. He cupped her cheek softly as they kissed before the entire tribe. Bianca witnessed as Sha'ani and Konalan shared their first kiss, knowing so many more firsts would be on the horizon. The entire tribe cheered, and Sha'ani and Konalan stood before them as husband and wife.
If there was one thing that brought Fae together without fail, it was a wedding party. Drums and flutes filled the air as men and women danced all about. Sha'ani and Konalan were at the center of it all, basking in the warmth of their special evening. Bianca, too, took part in the festivities. Drinking and making merry as the tribe gathered around and shared stories of Sha'ani and Konalan both as children and during their time betrothed.
"-so she sees the snake, and runs straight for the bow when her loincloth gets caught on a low hanging limb. Last I saw of her was her bare backside as she sprinted for the arrows. Not the most glamorous view." Bianca told one tale as the others laughed.
"Hey Konalan, tell 'em how you fell off of the tree cause you were trying to--" one Faerie began when Konalan slapped his hand over the would-be storyteller's mouth.
"No no. Let's not revisit that one." Konalan winced, his eyes darting towards Sha'ani who smiled at him. Bianca was about to speak again when a firm hand tapped her on the shoulder. It was Kotaro, having shed his wedding vestments and returned to his simple loincloth and letting his long, raven hair down out of its usual braids.
Kotaro smiled, and nodded his head backwards towards one of the nearby homes. His home. "A moment, Bianca?" He asked.
Bianca's heart fluttered. She gladly stood up and walked with him, her last look of Sha'ani giving her a thumbs up. They reached the entrance to the house, the large hollowed out tree. A curtain made from animal hide served as the door, and circular windows stood proudly open. A standard Faerie home. Nothing out of the ordinary.
"What do you need, Kotaro?" Bianca's heart beat loudly in her ears. She'd imagined such moments, being invited to the home of a man she fancied, and now it was happening. At least, she hoped so.
Kotaro glanced to the side, then reached for Bianca's shoulders and pulled her in close. Her body pressed against his, and her pulse quickened further. "You know," he began. "There's an old Fae legend. Those who give the bride and groom away on their wedding night end up sharing in such ecstasy as well."
"Do you believe in such things?" Bianca asked, wrapping her arms around his massive neck.
The Faerie man reached for Bianca's face and leaned in close, close enough that she could feel his breath on her lips. "I like to think it's less of belief and more of making it happen," he said confidently. His lips were so close. Her first kiss was just within reach, and she dared to hope other firsts would happen as well.
Just before the kiss, a pair of hands tore Bianca from Kotaro's embrace and she found herself on the ground.
"What the hell?!" Bianca looked up, and saw Kalara and two other Fae glaring at her.
"'Bianca of the Heartland Fae tribe,' are you kidding me?!" Kalara screeched. "You've got some real fucking nerve, mongrel." She spat on the ground in front of Bianca.
"Kalara, get out of here!" Kotaro spat.
"You know damn well what her kind did to us, Kotaro. You'll thank me for this later."
Bianca rose up from the ground and dusted herself off. "You little bitch. What are you doing?!"
"Saving Kotaro from your Elf clutches, you little whore," Kalara said as she shoved Bianca down to the ground again. The Faerie woman drew an axe and pointed it towards Bianca, grimacing as she dared Bianca to make a move.
Sha'ani and Konalan came running, as did a few other Fae. "What's going on here? Kalara, what in Segovax's name has gotten into you?" Sha'ani asked as she rushed to help Bianca up.
"Senhua and Tillian. Where are they?" The Faerie behind Kalara stepped forward.
Bianca shook her head. "I don't know where they are. I just--"
"Don't you dare lie to me! Senhua and Tillian have been gone since this morning, and you just happened to return from taking a job from those damned Elves!" Gasps and mutters filled the air.
"Taking jobs from Elves? Explain this, Bianca!" Now Verathorn stood among them. Bianca was stunned. No one besides Sha'ani knew the nature of her contracts. While she did take requests from the Elvehn Republic, the ones trying to make peace with the other races, she had never touched the Empire's work. She had standards, and that meant never aiding the ones who had harmed her Faerie family.
Bianca couldn't speak. She could only stammer as she tried to find the right words. "Master Verathorn, I--"
"For hundreds of years, the Elves have oppressed our people. These are the fiends who kidnapped our children! Who raped our wives! Who tortured and mutilated our men into those abhorrent Battle Slaves whose only hope of any relief is death. We took you in, Bianca! We took you in, gave you food and shelter, and this is how you repay us? This is what you do to the people who saved your life?!" Verathorn's words cut deeper than any blade.
Bianca's heart sank like a stone as the Faerie tribe began to back away from her. Only Sha'ani remained at her side.
"Bianca," Sha'ani said as she held Bianca close.
Tears began to well up in Bianca's eyes. She dropped to her knees and placed her hands on the ground, bowing her head before the tribal leader who now stood in front of her.
"Master Verathorn, my most gracious chief. I swear I would never serve those who would do our people harm. I only sought to make some money so that I could earn a living and provide certain goods to our tribe. Remember the toys from the Dwarven Realms?" She looked desperately to the children who cowered behind the adults. "The pastries and cakes from the human towns? You don't get to enjoy many sweets in the Heartland Woods, you know."
Her words were doing nothing to sway them. Finally an older Faerie, the horsemaster Galahan, threw a stone at her shoulder. She recoiled in pain, grasping her arm where the rock struck.
"I saw the condition you brought old Beynon back in! My prized mare was hurt because of you!" he shouted.
"That wasn't her fault!" Sha'ani shouted. Even now her sister was defending her.
Verathorn shook his head and walked towards the pair. "Step aside, Sha'ani."
"My chief, please," Sha'ani begged.
"Step. Aside." Verathorn spoke once more, and something told Bianca he would not repeat himself a third time. With no small amount of hesitation, Sha'ani released Bianca and stepped backwards.
Bianca couldn't stop. Tears streamed down her face as she now found herself at the mercy of the chief of the Heartland Fae tribe. Someone had told of her work with the Elves. Someone besides Sha'ani must have known. She didn't want to look up. Didn't want to face the man she had somehow betrayed.
No one would speak. Not even Kalara, Galahan, or any of the Fae who jeered her. There was only silence. Painful, agonizing silence. Only the sound of crickets and the wind as the sunset grew ever dimmer, signalling the end of the day.
"Go," Verathorn said softly.
Bianca wiped the tears from her eyes. "What?" She asked softly. Verathorn turned his back and began to walk away.
"Leave this village. If you set foot within this forest again, you will be killed on sight. Now go."
Sha'ani ran towards Verathorn when Konalan grabbed her to hold her still. "You can't do this! Bianca's done nothing wrong! She--"
Bianca was no longer listening. She turned towards the nearest exit from the Heartland Fae village and ran wildly into the forest.
***
To say there is bad blood between the Elves and Faeries of Gaol would be a horrendously offensive understatement. Since the time after the War of the Gods, the Elves of Elvehn have used their immense advantage in numbers to overwhelm, control, and oppress the Fae tribes of the forests and mountains all along the Western half of the mainland. Men were often transfigured into Battle Slaves, hulking behemoths used for warfare. Women were forced into the service of a rather crudely named profession known as "comfort girls," the details of which I will not describe here. This practice of "Fae breaking," however, has since been outlawed both in the newly formed Elvehn Replublic, the country of Elbafas, and the kingdom of Forswaron. Although rumors circulate of the practice still being in use in more remote, lawless corners of Gaol.
-From the desk of Lambur Stonetooth of the College of Autumn's Gate