It was one of those rare warm days in early autumn when the countryside seemed to hold its breath, savoring the last remnants of summer. The golden sunlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows that danced across the landscape. The crisp air was tinged with the scent of pine and earth, and the faint sound of the river flowing nearby added a peaceful rhythm to the day.
Freya, Peyton, and Oaklynn were in high spirits as they made their way to the riverbank near Hawthorne Manor, a basket of food swinging from Freya's arm. They had spent the morning helping their grandmother Tina with some light chores around the manor and had earned themselves a well-deserved break. Their picnic spot, a secluded area by the river surrounded by weeping willows and wildflowers, had been a favorite retreat for years.
Freya led the way, her dark green skirt brushing the tall grass as she walked. She wore a simple yet elegant blouse with lace trim, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Peyton and Oaklynn followed close behind, their dresses equally modest yet practical for an afternoon outdoors. Peyton's gown was a soft lavender, the color complementing her Blonde hair, while Oaklynn's dress was a deep blue, her wild auburn curls tucked under a bonnet that refused to stay in place.
"Honestly, Oaklynn," Peyton teased, watching her cousins struggle with the unruly bonnet. "Why bother with that thing if it won't cooperate?"
Oaklynn huffed, tugging at the ribbons. "I'm trying to keep the sun off my face. Freckles are cute, but I don't need any more."
Freya chuckled, shaking her head. "You look fine, Oaklynn. Besides, we're not here for a fashion show. We're here to relax."
The three of them laughed together, their footsteps light as they drew closer to the river. The sound of the water rushing over the rocks became clearer, soothing and familiar. Freya inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh, earthy scent that the river always carried. She could already picture the quiet afternoon ahead—lying on the grass, reading a good book, and perhaps even a nap under the warm sun.
But as they rounded the final bend and their favorite spot came into view, Freya stopped short, her laughter fading. "Oh no," she muttered, causing Peyton and Oaklynn to nearly bump into her.
"What is it?" Peyton asked, peering over her cousin's shoulder.
Freya sighed and pointed ahead. "We're not alone."
Oaklynn stood on tiptoe to get a better view and let out an exasperated groan. "Oh, great. Look who it is."
Sure enough, just a short distance away, a group of girls had already claimed the riverbank. Their blankets were spread out in a perfect display, and they were lounging on them as though posing for a painting. The soft giggles and high-pitched voices drifted through the air, unmistakable even at a distance.
Tiffany-Rose Butterworth.
The queen bee of their school, Tiffany-Rose was known for her beauty, wealth, and ability to make life difficult for those who didn't fit into her carefully curated circle. With her porcelain skin, flowing golden hair, and wardrobe that seemed to come straight from the finest London boutiques, she was the envy of many. But beneath her perfect exterior lay a sharp tongue and an even sharper wit, always ready to cut down anyone who crossed her.
Today, she was dressed in an immaculate cream-colored gown adorned with delicate lace and pearls, as if she were attending a grand ball rather than a simple picnic by the river. Her two closest friends, Lettie Reardon and Annabelle Mayfield, flanked her like loyal courtiers, their dresses equally elegant in pastel hues of pink and mint green.
Freya groaned under her breath. "Of all the places…"
The cousins exchanged frustrated glances, silently debating whether to turn back and find another spot. But before they could make a decision, Tiffany-Rose spotted them. Her crystal-blue eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, and a slow, knowing smile spread across her face.
"Well, well, well," Tiffany-Rose called out in her sing-song voice, standing up gracefully and smoothing the folds of her dress. "If it isn't the Hawthorne girls, come to grace us with their presence."
Freya plastered a polite smile on her face, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hello, Tiffany-Rose. Enjoying the weather?"
Tiffany-Rose's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "Oh, absolutely. It's such a perfect day for a picnic. Though I must admit, I wasn't expecting to run into… you lot out here." She glanced at her friends, who tittered behind their gloved hands as though Tiffany-Rose had said something incredibly clever.
"Seems we had the same idea," Peyton said, her tone neutral but her eyes sharp. "The riverbank is quite large. I'm sure there's room for everyone."
Tiffany-Rose tilted her head, pretending to consider this. "Hmm, true. But you see, we've already claimed this area, and we wouldn't want anyone to feel… crowded. Perhaps you'd be more comfortable further down the river?"
Oaklynn clenched her fists at her sides, her patience wearing thin. "There's plenty of room here, Tiffany-Rose. We don't mind sharing the space."
Tiffany-Rose raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smirk. "How generous of you. But really, I insist—"
Before she could finish, a sudden ripple in the river caught Freya's attention. She turned her head slightly, her instincts immediately on alert. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something move beneath the water, a flicker of light that didn't belong there.
Peyton noticed it too. She glanced at Freya, her magical senses tingling. Oaklynn, always attuned to the energy around her, stiffened as well.
There was something in the water.
Freya narrowed her eyes, focusing on the strange light. At first, it seemed like nothing more than a trick of the sun reflecting off the surface of the river. But then she heard it—a soft, high-pitched giggle, coming not from Tiffany-Rose and her friends, but from the water itself.
Freya's heart skipped a beat. "Peyton, Oaklynn," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Look at the river."
Her sisters followed her gaze, and Oaklynn's eyes widened in surprise. "Is that…?"
Before any of them could say another word, the water suddenly erupted in a splash, sending droplets flying into the air. Out of the river leaped a small, glowing figure—a water faerie.
The faerie was no larger than a child's doll, with delicate, translucent wings that shimmered in the sunlight like the surface of a dewdrop. Her skin was a pale blue, and her hair flowed behind her in waves, as if she were still underwater. She giggled again, a sound like the tinkling of bells, and hovered above the river, droplets of water falling from her wings like tiny diamonds.
Tiffany-Rose let out a shriek, stumbling backward in a most unladylike fashion. "What in the world is that?!"
Her friends, Lettie and Annabelle, froze in place, their eyes wide with shock. Lettie clutched her bonnet as though it might protect her, while Annabelle stared open-mouthed at the faerie, clearly torn between fear and fascination.
Freya, Peyton, and Oaklynn exchanged knowing glances. They had encountered faeries before, and while most were harmless, some could be quite mischievous—especially water faeries, who had a reputation for playing tricks on unsuspecting humans.
"It's just a faerie," Freya said calmly, stepping forward. "She won't hurt you—unless you provoke her."
Tiffany-Rose gaped at Freya, her perfect composure slipping for the first time. "A faerie?! You must be joking!"
The faerie, seemingly amused by the commotion, fluttered closer to Tiffany-Rose, her giggles growing louder. With a mischievous grin, she reached out and began tugging at the ribbons on Tiffany-Rose's dress, undoing the intricate bows with startling speed.
"Stop it! Get it off me!" Tiffany-Rose shrieked, spinning in circles as the faerie darted around her, pulling at her hair and the laces of her dress. Lettie and Annabelle backed away, watching in horror as their queen bee was reduced to a disheveled mess.
Oaklynn couldn't suppress a smirk. "Maybe the faerie doesn't like your sense of fashion, Tiffany-Rose."
Peyton snickered. "Or maybe she's just having a bit of fun."
The faerie giggled louder, clearly enjoying the chaos she was causing. She tugged at Tiffany-Rose's bonnet, sending it flying into the river, where it floated away on the current.
Freya knew it was time to intervene before the faerie got too carried away. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pouch of dried lavender and thyme, herbs that were known to soothe faeries and draw them back to their natural habitat. She sprinkled a pinch of the herbs into the air, and the faerie immediately stopped her antics, her tiny nose twitching as she sniffed the air.
Freya smiled and tossed another pinch toward the river, where the faerie eagerly followed, diving back into the water with a splash.
Tiffany-Rose was left standing in the middle of the riverbank, her dress half undone, her hair disheveled, and her face flushed with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
"You… you did that on purpose!" she accused, pointing an accusatory finger at Freya.
Freya shook her head, though she couldn't hide the amusement in her eyes. "You're welcome, Tiffany-Rose. That faerie could have done a lot worse if she'd really wanted to."
"You… you did that on purpose!" she accused, pointing an accusatory finger at Freya.
Freya shook her head, though she couldn't hide the amusement in her eyes. "You're welcome, Tiffany-Rose. That faerie could have done a lot worse if she'd really wanted to."
Peyton and Oaklynn stifled their laughter as they gathered their things. "We'll leave you to your picnic," Peyton said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
The cousins made their way further down the river, where they finally found a peaceful spot to enjoy their picnic, leaving Tiffany-Rose and her friends to recover from their encounter with the mischievous faerie.
As they settled down and unpacked their food, Oaklynn grinned. "I don't think Tiffany-Rose will be coming back here anytime soon."
Freya chuckled. "I think you're right. And if she does, she'll probably be on the lookout for more faeries."
Peyton took a bite of her sandwich and sighed contentedly. "Here's to peaceful afternoons and faeries with a good sense of humor."
The girls laughed and relaxed, enjoying the rest of their afternoon by the river, the earlier tension forgotten as the sun continued to shine warmly over Hawthorne Manor.