In a rather strange forest, in a world unknown to humans, lived a fairly small faerie called Daena. Like most faeries, Daena was kind, considerate and always happy to help.
As you probably already know, faeries possess magical powers. Tales say faeries can create gold from nothing, summon monsters and even change history. I don’t know how much of that is actually true but even from exaggeration, you can imagine faeries are powerful creatures despite their lack of height.
However, it’s important to note that faeries were not selfish with their magic. They healed sick mothers, gave courage to heroes, led starving folk to food, tricked devious trolls and also helped lost children find their way home.
Faeries were particularly helpful and caring towards children. Not for vindictive reasons but because they have a natural desire to protect the small and innocent. During times of hardship and war, the presence of a magical faerie had life-changing effects on children. The faeries never asked for anything in return, all they wanted was to help, and bring smiles to children’s faces.
As you can see, faeries are incredibly kind-hearted. Throughout history, they have been a divine presence. A bright light in a dark world. But times have changed since then. For the last century, faeries have been forbidden from leaving their home. Instead of helping children, faeries were expected to be content with just helping other faeries.
However, Daena was not content. When she was a youngling, barely the size of a bean, she dreamed about venturing out to help humans. She did not see why faeries stayed hidden in their sanctuary, keeping their powers to themselves, when there were people out there in the beyond who would benefit from her gifts.
Every day, after she completed her tasks, Daena would fly up the tallest tree and sit on the tallest branch where she would gaze out into the distance. She would imagine what it’d be like to fly out and assist needy folk.
In the past, as soon as a faerie’s wings were strong enough, they were expected to leave their home and travel the world. Daena’s precious wings flickered with excitement at the thought of leaving but she knew it was not possible. Faeries were not allowed to leave.
At sunset, Daena began the flight to her family’s house. On the way, she came across Mother Faerie who was the wisest and strongest, and perhaps the plumpest of all faeries.
“Daena, why do you look so glum?” Mother Faerie asked. “For a long time now, I’ve seen you plagued by unhappiness. Tell me what troubles you so I can help.”
“Dear Mother,” Daena sighed. “I yearn to go out into the human world. My ancestors brought happiness to children and made their greatest wishes come true. I want to do the same, I want to help.”
Mother Faerie took Daena’s hand, sympathy glittered in her eyes as she said, “I understand the unrest you feel. It’s in our nature to act as guardians to those in need but it’s not safe to leave.”
“Why isn’t it safe? I know I’m forbidden to leave but I’ve never been told the reason why. Please, tell me.”
A spell of sadness overcame Mother Faerie as she decided to share the truth with Daena. She hoped the truth would expel the young faerie’s desire for the outside world. Mother Faerie floated around Daena as she told her tale.
“The world changed and it became a dangerous place for faeries, and as the world changed, so did the children. They no longer had any need for our magic. We decided it would be safer for all faeries to remain behind our walls.”
“But that was centuries ago!” Daena said. “Perhaps the world has changed again and there are children waiting for our aid. I could go and…”
“Certainly not! I forbid it,” Mother Faerie tapped her staff on the ground like she was announcing a proclamation. “I won’t risk the life of a faerie just so you can quench your curiosity.”
Daena held back her tears. Mother Faerie held an arm around her,
“I understand. I was like you once. I wondered and yearned for the world outside but you must accept the truth, the world has changed and we have to change too. Use your wonderful wings and your marvellous magic for the good of our kind. Your desires will ease away soon, I promise.”
Mother Faerie smiled and Daena smiled too until Mother Faerie flew away. Daena wished she could forget her dreams and be like other faeries but she was convinced that this dream and desire would never leave her.
That night as Daena watched the fireflies and listened to the songs of the forest, she knew she had to go to the human world. Even if it was only for a day. In one, single day, she could see the world for herself and finally silence her whispering temptations. If she were able to help one child, she knew that one good deed would make her content forever.
So, that’s exactly what Daena did. Before the sun rose, she flew through the land of the faeries and made it to the border. She didn’t even glance back to say farewell. Daena knew she would be back before anyone noticed she was gone.
Spreading her wings, she soared over the walls and through the veil, within an instant she felt the fresh wind breathe upon her face and she flew into a bright blue sky. She did not dare blink; she did not want to miss a thing.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gazed at the green fields, the trees, the rivers, the paths and the houses.
She had seen old drawings by faeries, depicting what the human world looked like but those drawings now looked amateur in comparison to the grand world she saw around her. There were some things she did not recognise, such as, strange metal towers and long, ugly lines hanging through the air which seemed to crackle like the beginning of a thunderstorm.
Daena flew for almost three hours before she remembered her purpose. At the next house she found, she glided down and landed on a painted fence.
Playing in the garden, surrounded by wooden toys, was a small boy. Daena watched him. He was certainly different than the pictures she had seen before. His cheeks were round, pinkish in colour, his belly bulged out the sides of his pants and his hair was cleanly combed. From his height, he was probably seven, eight or nine. Daena tried to guess. He grinned as he played with a toy soldier. He held it up in the air like it was flying.
As Daena sat, perched on the fence, she wondered if there was anything more she could do for the boy. He already seemed happy and content. She was about to fly again when she decided to fly over to the boy. She wasn’t sure how far it would be until she found another child. It would be a shame to not at least say hello and see if there was anything she could do to help him.
She landed on top of a tulip, straightened her clothes, tidied her hair and cleared her throat. This was her first meeting with a human, she wanted this moment to be perfect.
“Hi,” Daena said, aloud. “Hello, child.”
The boy did not turn around. Daena guessed he had not heard her. He laughed as he threw the toy soldier up into the air. It hit the ground with a loud thud. The soldier’s arm landed a few feet away. Daena grimaced at the soldier’s scratched and faded face, its smile was almost gone.
Daena looked at the child. This time she spoke louder, making sure she was heard.
“Excuse me? Hello! Hello, there.”
The boy stopped playing and slowly turned his head. He looked around the garden, confused. He failed to see Daena standing on the flower. She giggled, lightly.
“I’m down here.” Daena waved, she smiled as the boy looked down. While the boy stared at her, utterly confused and slightly afraid, Daena’s heart swelled with warmth. She could not believe she was talking to a child. A real, human child.
“What are you?” The boy demanded. Any fear had now disappeared.
“My name is Daena. I’m a faerie,” Daena curtsied, politely.
“A fairy?” The boy scoffed, “Fairies don’t exist. They are made up stories for little kids.”
Daena smiled. She wanted to tell him he was only a little kid too but she thought against it, she didn’t want to upset him. Instead, she said,
“If they are made up, then why am I standing here? I am as real as you are.”
“Really?” The boy crossed his arms as he frowned. “Maybe I’m asleep and this is all a dream.”
Daena did not really know what to say to that. She presumed all children knew faeries were real, she never expected she would have to persuade them otherwise. The boy wiped his nose on his sleeve and mumbled,
“Mum says things are only real if you can touch them. That’s why the monster under my bed isn’t real. If I touch you, I can see if you’re real or not.”
Daena shifted uncomfortably, the boy was so much bigger than her, she did not like the idea of being poked or prodded but if it persuaded the boy, she was real, it would be a temporary discomfort.
“Very well,” Daena nodded.
So, the faerie reached out her hand. The boy stared at her for a moment then lifted his arm and pressed the tip of his chubby finger against her hand. Daena smiled as the boy’s eyes widened and so did his smile. His face was alight with wonder and amazement.
“You really are real!”
“Yes,” Daena laughed. “I really am.”
The boy chuckled, “Wow! This is amazing!”
Before Daena could say another word, the boy snatched her from the tulip. Daena froze with terror, his fat fingers squeezed around her body.
“Please! Let me go, you’re hurting me,” Daena squeaked, tears fell down her cheeks.
The boy suddenly opened his hand and Daena collapsed onto his palm.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you,” the boy watched her worriedly. “I only wanted to have a closer look.”
“It’s fine,” Daena gasped, her entire body ached but she knew he didn’t mean to cause any harm. She stretched her wings, the boy had bent them accidentally. Her precious wings slowly returned to their natural shape. She stood up and smiled, “See, no harm done.”
“Those are beautiful,” the boy gaped at her wings.
“Thank you.” Daena blushed, she was proud of her wings, they were her constant companion. A faerie’s wings made it possible to soar through the sky and venture to different worlds. Like a bird, a faerie’s life depended on their wings. Without wings, a faerie would just be a tiny speck in a vast, dangerous world.
“Can I touch them?” The boy asked and before Daena could even respond, he reached for her wings. Daena leaped out of the way and pressed her wings against her back.
“No,” Daena said firmly. “You cannot touch my wings. They are fragile and precious to me. A faerie only ever has one pair of wings, if I lose them even my magic cannot bring them back.”
“Okay, fine,” the boy sulked.
While he pulled his hand away, his eyes remained fixed on Daena’s wings. She tried to ignore it.
Remember, he’s only a child, she said to herself.
Standing on his palm, Daena looked up at the little boy and said,
“I have travelled many miles with a single hope, to make a single child’s wish come true. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“You can make any of my wishes come true?” The boy asked.
“Yes, indeed,” Daena nodded. “If you are hungry, I can summon food. If you want to be smarter, I can improve your intelligence. Anything you wish.”
“Anything?”
Daena nodded.
“So...” the boy pressed his lips together. “If I wanted to have your wings, could I wish for them?”
Daena flinched, she took a step back on the boy’s hand, “Well, no. They are my wings. I need them to go home.”
“But you said, I could wish for anything I wanted,” the boy glared at her.
“You can wish for anything else,” Daena said, nervously. “Look, I can bring you the bestest cake you’ve ever eaten. I can give you the bestest clothes or perhaps I can…”
“I don’t want any of that,” the boy snapped. “I want your wings.”
“No!” Daena was surprised by the anger in her tone. This wasn’t how it was supposed to play out at all. She said, “I’ve already told you, you can’t have them.”
Before Daena could react, the boy grabbed her wings and hauled her body up into the air. Her wings flapped and struggled like a fly caught in a web.
“I said, I want your wings!” The boy yelled as he tore Daena’s wings off her back.
Bones snapped, flesh tore and blood spurted out. Daena did not scream but something inside her did. The boy let her fall down into the cold, harsh grass. She lay still, not moving, barely breathing. The toy soldier, the boy had thrown earlier, seemed to stare into her eyes with a familiar broken emptiness.
The boy ignored Daena as he gazed and prodded at her wings, he murmured,
“They’re so pretty.”
Suddenly the wings cracked and shattered into thousands of glittering pieces. Daena watched as the shards fell into the grass. The wings she had worn since her birth were gone. She would never be able to fly again. She would never be able to soar beside the birds. She would never be able to go back home. The last thought burned her spirit.
“Oh, no!” The boy screeched, “I broke them.”
He stamped his feet and cursed, saying words, inappropriate for any child. As he suffered his tantrum, Daena watched the wind drift through the grass, carrying the tiny shards of her wings away until nothing remained.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Daena struggled to her knees, her body felt cold but something terrible burned inside her. Something truly terrible, something she had never felt before. It burned her heart. It burned her eyes. It burned everything. She thought the grass would set alight if she were not careful.
“It’s not fair,” the boy spluttered as he kicked the ground.
As Daena slowly rose to her feet, the boy snapped,
“I want another pair of wings!”
“I already told you,” Daena’s voice was soft, surprisingly no anger or frustration was there. “A faerie can only ever have one pair of wings in their lifetime and you broke mine.”
The boy swore and crossed his arms madly. His furious features softened as he realised, “That didn’t count as my wish so I still have one wish to use, right?”
“Of course, child,” Daena said, she lifted her head, her eyes gleamed with an unnatural violet, “Tell me your deepest wish and I’ll give it to you.”
The boy closed his eyes and thought about it, if he only had one wish, he had to think carefully.
“I’ve got it!” The boy said, triumphantly. “I don’t want to be afraid of the dark anymore. At night, I have to sleep with Mum and Dad because I’m so scared. I want to wish my fear away.”
“That sounds like a terrible fear,” Daena said, she stood straight, wincing in pain. “Do you know that most fears gradually disappear when you have to face them every day?”
“I don’t want to face mine every day,” the boy piped. “I want it gone now.”
“Very well,” Daena smiled, “But first, I must tell you one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“As a faerie, I must make your chosen wish come true. It’s the rule. However, I can decide exactly how your wish will play out.”
“Yeah, so what?”
Daena chuckled, her body shuddered slightly, “Are you sure, you don’t want to be afraid of the dark anymore?”
“Yes! That’s my wish. Are you deaf, faerie?”
Daena smirked, she beckoned him closer. “Because you took my wings away, I can’t reach you. Please kneel and lean down towards me.”
The boy kneeled and lowered his head, he asked,
“Like this?”
“That’s perfect. I can reach you perfectly from here,” Daena grinned. “Now, I’ll make your wish come true.”
With a flash of magic, a needle appeared in Daena’s hand. She stabbed each of the boy’s eyes, plucking them out and throwing them into the grass. The boy shrieked, clutching his empty sockets as blood dribbled down his cheeks and chin.
“Why?!” He screamed, hysterically. “Why did you do this?”
“You didn’t want to be afraid of the dark anymore,” Daena said coolly, she wiped the blood off the needle. “If you live every day in the dark, your fear will eventually dissolve. In time, you will no longer be afraid.”
“You took my eyes!” He wailed. “You took my eyes!”
“Yes, I did,” Daena scowled. “You should be careful what you wish for, little boy.”
By the time the boy’s parents ran outside to see what all the fuss was about, Daena had limped to the fence. She passed one of the boy’s bloody eyes and nudged it down a hole. She hoped it would make a tasty snack for a pest.
She watched the parents try to comfort the boy whose eyes were lost. Now, Daena understood why faeries never travelled out anymore. In centuries past, children appreciated the appearance of a kind faerie. Faeries could cure their hunger, loneliness or misery. The world had changed and it seemed as though children did not suffer such ailments anymore. Instead they possessed an insatiable greed. A greed that had cost Daena everything.
Without her wings, Daena knew she would never be able to return home. It was doubtful she would ever see another faerie again. She was trapped here.
She closed her eyes and accepted her fate. If she was going to be trapped in the human world forever, she would simply have to remind children that faeries were to be respected, or they would have to be taught a lesson.