Ethel had never truly feared her mother, but when she was banished from the human realm she did.

Of course she knew her mother could be angry, she was an almighty sovereign. Of course she had known that in theory there were consequences connected with showing herself to humans.

It was forbidden after all. Any form of mischief was allowed as long as the human in question couldn't prove a fae was responsible.

The one rule for visiting the human realm, one so simple Ethel had never considered it a problem. Unfortunately, along the way she had forgotten about Arwen's own mortality.

A year after that fateful day the veil was lifted, and Ethel was forced to stay behind.

Two years after that fateful encounter, and Ethel was locked up in her room, to ensure she wouldn't try anything.

Three years after she had last seen Arwen, Ethel was sent far far away. To a place where the veil could not reach, crossing the great ocean wide. Too far away to even try to go back and truly see.

Four, five, six, seven years later and she forced her own return to the house she was born in.

Hadn't her exile been long enough?

A decade passed in a heartbeat, the summers flowing together in an endless loop of loneliness.

Twenty human years had passed since Ethel had visited the human realm. It made a new fear rise its head, what if Arwen was dead.

She didn't know much about human lives, only that they were far shorter than the endless spring of a fae. They were fragile in their bodies supported by bones and flesh, so vulnerable to any outsider attacking them. And even with their flesh less able to protect them , their own body would slowly lose its ability to function and deteriorate till the human would die.

She feared Arwen had been swept away, her memories the only thing left to fade in the dark.

It was a fear she was unwilling to speak of, if she didn't voice then it wouldn't come true after all. Ask any faerie, wish magic was one of the most potent ones in the realm.

It was the very reason she wished every day to return, in endless nights in company of simple candlelight. She wished for their soul to not be wasted away, to be swept away in a winter's dream.

They were simple wishes, should have been simple sentiments. Yet unattainable for her.

She wished for Arwen to think of her, the flower crown in her hands in need of a place to rest.

She wished to be free like the northern wind, to walk by her side.

-

The veil was thin during midwinter, not thin enough to let a fae pass through time and space, but thin enough to see. To come as close as possible during the long winter days, and the only consultation for a weary heart.

Ethel was wandering the woods, the place where once she would cross the veil and appear in Arwen's woods. It was close, so tantalisingly close to her Love.

She hoped to see a glimpse of her, to hear her laughter ring across the barren flower fields. Alive and full of joy, unaware of the fae listening in.

It was not given to her. The veil closed before her eyes in constant reminder of what she could not touch.

Not now, not even after their fading.

For did she not remember that even in death humans and fae did not mix?

She could hope, but what would hope bring her if not more pain. The unwavering reveries of an old fashioned heart.

-

Ethel layed alone on her bed during the endless nights. Her soul going to waste, in this eternal summer land waiting to bloom.

A song came whispered from her lips, unseen, unheard.