As the young maiden's eyes grew impossibly wide, her mouth fell agape. It was quite cute, actually. The look of wonderment on her face surrounded by a mass of messy curls, made her appear so young and innocent. Maybe she was. Since I had never seen a human, it was difficult for me to judge her age. The only thing I knew for certain was the stories I had heard of human witches didn't match the young woman before me now. Witches were supposed to be wrinkly old women resembling hags. They must have their own glamour, and this one was using it to make herself appear pretty.

But how would she have maintained the glamour while unconscious?

"F...fairies?" she stuttered out.

"Yes, dear, fairies," Auntie stated, looking at the girl like she had grown a second head.

"I thought fairies were just legends, make-believe."

"We are as real as humans and our magic is as real as human's witchcraft." Gesturing to me, Auntie stated, "Mareck found you near death in the forest, suffering from poisoning of the blood. We brought you to my cottage and I healed you."

Her eyes shifted to me, then dropped to the ground abruptly. A redness blossomed on her cheeks, bringing attention to a sprinkling of freckles across her nose.

Auntie giggled and stated, "Don't worry, little one. I'm sure he has that effect on females of all species."

The maiden's face turned a deep scarlet, and I worried we had not healed her as well as we thought.

"Auntie, is she okay?" I whispered. "Do you need to give her more of the healing liquid?"

Between fits of laughter, Auntie answered, "No, you silly boy. She is not accustomed to seeing a strapping young man like yourself standing in front of her half-naked."

Confused, I looked down at myself. "But, Auntie, I have pants and boots on. I'm not naked."

Rolling her eyes, she gave me a playful slap on the arm. "You are so naïve, Mareck. Don't tell me that none of the Ladies of the Court have ever found you attractive."

Oh, that's what she meant.

I understood that well, except the Court Ladies never had their faces turn red while looking at me. Instead, their eyes always filled with lust. Truthfully, all the Court Ladies had found me attractive at some point. Funny, humans react differently when they see something they like.

"Now, my child, you said witch hunters were after you because you put a man in his place, with magic, when he touched you without permission. And you were not aware you possessed magic, right?" Auntie always was one to get right to the point.

"Yes, mam. I...I...I guess so," she stuttered out.

"Well, it is or it isn't, girl. Are you a witch or not?"

"Yes, mam. My great-grandmother was a witch. I suppose I inherited it from her."

"Alright, now that we have gotten past that, what is your name?"

Looking down and back up through thick lashes, she glanced at me for the briefest of moments. "My name is Kyra, mam, Kyra Sojoiner."

*****

I warmed some water and filled Auntie's tub per her request. The young woman would bathe and then dress in clothing Auntie had placed out for her. The Ladies of the court enjoyed having flowers and herbs in their bath water, so I put some of Auntie's fresh lavender in the steaming mix, followed with a sprinkling of rose petals. Kyra was still uncomfortable with her surroundings, so I thought it would make her feel more at home.

"Right in here, my dear. Mareck has drawn you a bath and there are soaps and linens on the shelf." Auntie had entered the room with Kyra trailing close behind. Eyeing the flowers in the bath water, Auntie gave me a furtive look before smiling widely.

On the other hand, Kyra looked at the bath with wide eyes and stated, "Thank you, I've never had a fancy bath before.

"Come on, Mareck, let's give Kyra some privacy."

After a full hour, Kyra exited the bathing room dressed in a green gown made of a light material with her unruly copper curls pulled up on top of her head. My eyes couldn't help but linger on her figure. It was obvious that human women had more curves than fae. Kyra's hips appeared as full as her breasts in the simple gown she wore.

"Excuse me, where can I wash my clothes so I can return this lovely gown to you when I leave," Kyra asked Auntie.

"Leave, where will you go. If you return to the humans, will you be safe?"

"No, mam, but I do not wish to impose on your hospitality. I will find some place to go," Kyra answered.

"Nonsense, you can stay here with me for as long as you like. I happen to know a lot about magic, including human witchcraft. I can teach you to control and use your power, even teach you some fae spells. I'm alone most of the time. It will be nice to have someone to keep me company."

Kyra's expression initially appeared shocked, then overwhelmed, then happy. Her eyes displayed this beautiful little twinkle, and deep dimples indented her cheeks when she smiled.
"Yes, mam. I would love that," she exclaimed. "I have no family left. My parents passed when I was a small girl. I too, am alone all the time."

"That settles it then. Mareck, go find us something to cook for dinner. We will have a celebratory dinner for our new friend," Auntie stated.

This was my cue to go for a hunt in the forest. Hopefully, I could bring back a nice, fat rabbit and Auntie could make her fabulous rabbit stew, my favorite.

As I walked through the forest, supernatural hearing alert for small game, I couldn't help but think on the small human woman. How different her life would be had I not found her this morning. Fate had seen fit to spare her life and bring her into ours. I hoped she could make herself at home here in the fae forest. She would be a big help to Auntie when I was not around.

A faint sound to my right reminded me why I was out here. Attuning my ears further, I pinpointed the noise to a burrow nearby. Calling on my magic, I approached the burrow soundlessly. With a movement so sudden, even fae eyes would have a hard time viewing it, I reached into the hole and pulled out a large male rabbit. The animal attempted to bite and scratch me, but a quick snap of my wrist broke its spine, killing him instantly. We would indeed have rabbit stew for dinner.

Returning to the cottage, Auntie and Kyra were in the garden. Auntie was already teaching her about the different herbs and produce she grew. Presenting the large buck, Auntie clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Wonderful job, Mareck. Get it dressed and I will start dinner."

Dressing the animal out, I did as Auntie taught me. Every part of the creature's carcass would be utilized in some way. His fur, after drying properly, would be added to the fur pelt bedspreads we used to keep ourselves warm in the winter, the bones dried and ground up to be used in one of Auntie's ointments and each internal organ placed in the soil underneath her plants as fertilizer.,

Auntie taught me to pay my respects to our kills by not wasting any of their sacrifice. This was the old way of the fae, and I preferred it much more than the new way of self-indulgence and lavish squandering of resources.

When Auntie went inside to begin dinner, she left Kyra and I outside, pulling weeds from her chamomile bed. Kyra was quiet, but several times I caught her watching me in her peripheral vision. On my hands and knees in the soil, I pulled even the tiniest of intruders from between the chamomile, careful not to damage the tender shoots.

"How can a man as...large as you perform such a delicate duty," Kyra asked, breaking the silence with her soft voice.

"I'm not sure. I have done this with Auntie since I was a small boy. I suppose I just slowly adjusted as I grew in size."

Silence grew between us again as we continued to work. The sun had warmed things up and a thin sheen of sweat had broken out over my skin. Once again, I caught Kyra watching me. She seemed interested in my shoulders as I pulled a rather resilient mint root out of the soil.

"Do all fairy men look like you," she asked, voice low and timid.

Giving a hearty laugh, I answered, "No, I am larger than most fae men. They also have silver hair and blue eyes like Auntie."

Giving me a curious look, she stated, "Why do you have black hair and green eyes? Are you of mixed parentage?"

"I'm not sure. I'm an orphan, left on Auntie's doorstep as an infant. I have no idea of my true parentage, although many fae like to speculate. Because I look different, I'm considered an outcast," I answered, not making eye contact, afraid I would see disappointment in her face.

Instead, I heard her whisper to herself, "Outcast, like me."

Before I could explore her reaction further, Auntie called from her kitchen window, requesting I snip some chives and bring to her for the stew. A delicious smell wafted through the window a few minutes earlier, causing my stomach to growl in need and my incisors to lengthen. My glamour always weakened when I was hungry and food was nearby.

Instead of going back to the garden, I went out back and added to Auntie's firewood pile. Unable to glamour my fangs right now, I made myself scarce so as not to frighten Kyra.

After an hour of chopping wood, I got the feeling of being watched. Checking my surroundings using my enhanced peripheral vision, I noticed Kyra standing in the shadow of Auntie's gargantuan poppy rose bush, a special hybrid Auntie developed using her magic. The bush clung to the side of the cottage, reaching upward toward the sun, blooms of orange and pink smothering its vines.

The young maiden watched me with wide eyes, taking in my every move, unaware I had caught her. Somehow, her intense gaze didn't feel the same as when the Court Ladies watched me. Kyra observed me with innocent curiosity, her crimson cheeks giving the only indication her thoughts were not completely pure.

Squatting down to lift a large log, I flexed the muscles of my back and shoulders as I stood. I heard a sharp intake of breath and smiled to myself, knowing my little show had been a success. Although I should feel ashamed for teasing Kyra in this way, it was too much fun to stop.

As I raised the axe above my head and slammed it down into the wood, splinters scattered across the ground. I heard a squeak come from the direction of the poppy rose and out of the corner of my eye, saw Kyra turn and bolt back to the front of the cottage.

Guess I teased past her limit.

"Mareck, Kyra, dinner's ready. Wash up and come eat," Auntie called out the kitchen window.

Walking to the well, it was my turn to watch Kyra. She pumped the heavy handle using both arms until fresh water poured from the spout. Washing her hands, she also splashed water onto her reddened face and washed the sweat from the back of her neck. I found myself mesmerized in the mundane action, concentrating on the water droplets that ran down her face and splashed on her chest.

Waiting until she was done and inside the cottage, I approached the pitcher pump. Washing the sweat, dirt, and sawdust from my body, I wondered how I would hide my fangs during dinner.

The rabbit stew was delicious as usual. Auntie had added potatoes and carrots from the root cellar, as well as a tasty concoction of onions and fresh herbs. I nodded, but didn't speak to the women as I sat down at Auntie's wooden slab table. Auntie gave me a knowing look and didn't say or do anything that would require me to open my mouth.

Filling my bowl full, I kept my head down, and probably looked like an animal attempting to eat from a trough with a spoon. No matter, it worked, my belly soon full enough I could again control my glamour and hide my razor-sharp incisors.

Kyra ate her fill also, cheeks rosy pink, eyes sparkling while in deep conversation with Auntie regarding the importance of foxglove plants used for medicinal purposes. Making full eye contact with me only once, her face blushed furiously. For some reason, it set my heart fluttering to witness her reaction to me.

It was soon time for me to return to the palace. I could come back in a week. Having not even left yet, I was already looking forward to returning to the little cottage in the forest.

Copyrighted 2/15/2021 by brhr14.
WC: 2163
WCT:4163