The Calling - Blood and Snow

08.

"Dear Diary.

Today is the day! Samuel and I are finally going to run off together and leave my ludicrous father once and for all. I'm so sick of all the talk, I can barely wait to be free. Father will probably not even notice I'm gone, too busy with Mayor folly to mind. Truthfully between me and you; I am rather scared but Sam has assured me that together we will be fine and that he will protect me. He is a fisherman at least, so I guess fish will be on the menu...a lot.

I am hopeful that through this that Sam and I will become more than just friends, is that wrong? I know he sees me more of a little sister than a woman, ... Not that he likes women anyway which is so frustrating. He's the only guy around here with any sort of manners or courtesy that is not full of himself or old enough to be my uncle. It makes me happy to know once we are out there nobody will judge us or treat us like freaks. Although I have spent my whole life here, I am going to miss Innigo the most, despite our very short friendship. He may be cheeky but he did not mind me taking his blue collar for a memento, it will never ever leave my wrist, even on my wedding day."

Daniella narrates before she stops writing.

"Well, here we go."

Daniella exhales, closing her diary and placing it in her satchel with her coin purse, silver mirror, ivory comb and other essentials.

Creeping through the halls, sneaking down stairs in the dead of night.

"Stop!"

Demands an elderly maid.

"And where do you think you are going, young lady?"

"To get water Ma'am."

"No you will not. Go back to your room and I shall fetch it for you. Understood?"

"Yes Ma'am."

Daniella turns back towards the wide spiralled staircase and walks forward slowly with an attentive ear.

~There she goes. Ok, this is it!~

Quietly scurrying across to the broad heavy door, her small feminine hand twists the large brass lock. Closing the door behind her being careful as to make as little sound as possible, her legs begin to tremble...

***

Growing up, all the other kids would make fun of her because she came from a noble home and always wore expensive clothing. Daniella never understood why the other children did mean things to her and did not want to be her friends. Her mother never comforted her through the times she cried and her father was always busy or away sorting out the family business. Being pretty did not help her situation. Her whole life she always wanted siblings, somebody she could play with without having to leave the grounds. From the window she would watch the other children playing together: friends, family, everybody looked so happy.

One day Daniella notices a girl the size of an insect, wearing a variegated dress made of petals and long many-hued hair fluttering like a ribbon in the wind, sat kicking her colourful legs in a cup of water. Listening carefully she can hear the tiny glamorous creature singing a song as quiet as the wind's gentle breeze. Not a song of words, but a song of sounds. Daniella had never heard anything so beautiful, no human had. Enchanted as she was, her heart felt light, but jumped when the being quickly turned facing her. Frightened as she was, still her nature was simply to smile in wonder and adore, thankfully she mirrored her ways. Looking at each other both were equally a mystery to one another. Danielle decides to do something she had never tried before: hum a melodious tune in an attempt to communicate... of course, it comes out less harmonious than expected. The tiny one laughs hysterically and she tries something she had never tried before: speak human... of course it comes out more like a squeak than a word. They both laugh together without a care in the world.

Despite the language barrier, both played happily together. Daniella had finally found a friend, somebody who was not mean but equally as caring. Daniella knew nobody would believe her about her new playmate so she kept her a secret. One day the girl is not by her home, instead a colorful metallic novelty lay in her place. Saddened, interpreting this to be a goodbye gift she took the plant to her room. The moon rose and fell over the Baldwin manor for a whole nine nights without a word. The plant each endless day drank to its fill with tears of a broken heart.

Eventually the metallic blanket cracked open and out stepped Saieru, a woman of her kind now, adorned with colorful wings, each spanning the size of a woman's palm. Her leaf made dress covered only half of her now and wore an expression of panic which Daniella understood.

Daniella pulled a leaf from the beautiful plant and gave it carefully, Saieru struggling to cover herself gratefully accepted. Standing, wearing the leaf like a bath towel she smiles, showing off her elegant new wings. Daniella nods and smiles in amazement and approval. For a whole twelve full moons the two met everyday in secret and would play together and learn how to communicate on some level. However, fairies of all schools have an understanding: never expose themselves to humans taller than a rose bush. This rule has helped to preserve their species and violation of this law is banishment for an eternity which, for such a social creature is worse than death. Saieru felt sadness that grew as her friend became taller, their friendship had to soon come to an end but she was unable to express it.

Saieru just like the rest of her kind lived in the extreme spectrum of personality; either incredibly kind, or, the other way. Her tiny heart could contain the whole world but with love comes loss and heartbreak. Knowing their time was almost up, she decided to paint with the dyes of flowers a beautiful pocket size picture of Daniella with her mother Enya. She was not blind of the relationship between the two but she understood that Daniella still loved her all the same and hoped that one day they could amend such a broken relationship. As she aged the bullying became more physical, returning from playing with bruises and grazes not caused by child's play. The name calling and teasing evolved over the years into more agonizing words. People saw how her mother was harsh and cruel towards her, never giving an ounce in love people began to suspect the worst. People would question how a family of dark hair could produce a girl of golden locks with the worst kind of conclusions. Rumours spread like wildfire.

Outdoors became a frightening prison for the young girl, full of abuse and torture. Crying at the window was far too common for a young woman so innocent in a cruel world.

***

...Facing the door reminded Daniella of the day when all that was left of her best friend was a small picture of her and mum. She never understood why, she never understood anything but a heartbreak they both shared from opposite sides of the cities walls. Daniella never told anybody about her secret friend but over time understood that for whatever reason she left, at least she was free to fly wherever she wanted and that gave closure and a tiny unending spark of hope.

"Pull it together, I can do this!"

Daniella says turning to face the court, trying to gather the courage to see her plan through. Scanning for any witnesses in the empty yard.

"This is it!"

Daniella runs across the garden, heart racing faster than ever in her life. Climbing the gate she turns back looking at the house she had spent her whole life in, in sadness. Her father loved her and she knew he did, she wondered how he would feel once he found out she had gone.

"Pssst" a voice whispers from the shadows…