The Heart of Everything. A Princess Tutu AU fic. (check out this post to learn more!)
Rating: PG-13/T
Chapter Two ~ 7321 words. [Prologue] [Chapter One]
Summary: Ahiru breaks the rules, and experiences the wonders -- and dangers -- of the town firsthand.
“I will not be blamed. It isn‘t my fault that you refused to listen --”
“This is unacceptable, Edel! We’ve been planning this for months --”
“ -- and I am telling you, with all due respect, that it cannot be done.”
“What are they talking about-zura?”
“Shh, I can’t hear...”
“I’ve told you time and time again of her severe allergy to moonlight --”
“ -- it’s necessary for her to make an appearance. The people know next to nothing of her, there must be a way --”
“Is that what you want? For her to have some sort of seizure in front of so many? That would make quite the first impression, I’m sure --”
The voices quieted. Ahiru pressed her ear against the door as hard as she could, but could no longer make out anything other than a few disjointed words, meaningless on their own. Sighing, she rested her forehead to the wood. At her side, Uzura mimicked the position and blinked up at her, concern brimming within her wide eyes.
“What’s wrong-zura?”
Ahiru glanced over, managing a smile. “Don’t worry, I’m okay. There’s just…a very important ball going on tomorrow and I can’t be there.”
“Why-zura?”
She hesitated a moment before answering. “Well, it’s at night.”
Uzura’s little mouth formed a circle. “Ohhhh,” she breathed, and rose both arms into the air, flapping them up and down a few hasty times. “’Cause of ---?”
“Yes,” Ahiru gently cut her off, not wanting to hear the word at the moment. “That.”
The door opened, then, so fast that Ahiru almost fell right along with it, but she managed to sway on her tiptoes instead as Edel stepped inside, expression unreadable.
Silence. Her caretaker pulled the handle into place once more, eyes dark, lips thin.
Steadying herself, Ahiru clutched both hands together within the folds of her skirt and met the woman’s gaze at once, unable to contain her anxiousness. “Well?”
Edel’s shoulders gave a gentle heave, and a look of relief finally surfaced. “It will go on without you.”
Uzura laughed at once. “No ball for Ahiru-zura!”
The little girl ran to gather her drum from where she had dropped it in all the excitement. Edel sunk into the nearest chair, a delicate hand pressed to her forehead. Ahiru, meanwhile, couldn’t bring herself to move, still unable to believe it. She’d been so certain that it was her secret’s final hour, that the Council would drag her to the ball and inadvertently reveal to the world the awful truth she’d tried so hard to hide. Relief flooded her -- but still, it felt cold, almost unwelcome as all its meaning seeped in. Uzura’s words rung in her ears: No ball for Ahiru.
“Really?” She took a careful step towards Edel. “They said it was okay?”
“How could they not?” A tired smile fluttered across the woman’s face. “I told them you’d go into conniptions at the mere sight of the moon.”
Ahiru managed a laugh. “That’s very good.”
“I thought so.”
A quiet moment passed. Uzura banged away blithely in the corner, singing. “No ball, no ball, no ball!”
“We won’t be able to hide this forever.”
The words rung through the air, settling along the curve of her shoulders, their weight almost painful. She felt Edel’s careful gaze held to her, but Ahiru couldn’t bring herself to meet it once more, so she turned to face the window instead, late afternoon sun pouring in.
“This day was to come eventually.”
“I know that,” she answered, voice soft. Desperate for warmth, she crossed to the window with a few quick steps and rested her elbows along the sill.
“You’ll be married soon,” Edel continued. “The truth will have to come out, despite the consequences. The prince, he --”
“He’ll have to know, he’ll have to know everything,” Ahiru finished the thought, cradling her chin in both open palms as she watched a few forms mill in the clearing beneath her, carrying baskets into town, leading horses to the stables. “I understand but I’m just -- I’m ---”
Her words faltered, so staunchly that she could feel both Edel and Uzura‘s gazes, heavy on her back.
She didn’t turn to make sure. She didn’t finish the thought, instead starting a new one with the cheeriest voice she could muster up. “Thank you, Miss Edel, for speaking to them.”
“You’re welcome.” Edel’s voice was soft, filled with warm understanding, and she took her still-singing daughter by the arm, leading her out of the room without so much as another word on the issue. “Come, Uzura, let’s leave Ahiru for a while.”
The door shut behind them with a sharp click, and Ahiru was alone with her thoughts, an endless view of trees and buildings and people framed by her window.
They would all have to know.
The thought terrified her -- she couldn’t bring herself to pretend like it didn’t. What would they think? She had prayed all her life in the desperate hopes that she wouldn’t have to find out, that she’d wake one morning only to find that the...deformity had vanished. She’d probably wished it on every star in the sky at some point -- and still, nothing.
A small, fragile part of her still held out faith. Maybe the wedding! Maybe when she was married, and the ravens were gone, and everything was perfect; surely there was no room for her problem amidst such a happy end. Surely it would vanish or be snuffed out as simply as an aging candlewick...
But if not...
The truth will have to come out, despite the consequences.
Ahiru refused to spend another moment thinking about it. She forced her lips into a perfect smile and giggled at the angry lines the stone sill had imprinted on her arms. No reason to ruin a perfectly good day with such thoughts! So she couldn’t go the ball. There were lots of other things she could do! Like read a book, or practice her dancing, or take a walk around the castle, or...
The faintest of music seeped into her thoughts, and she hummed along with the tune for a few unsuspecting moments before realizing that it wasn’t just in her head. Blinking, she leaned further out the window.
It was coming from town. She squinted as hard as possible down the meandering path, but could only make out countless blurs of people passing through and brown and black roofs nestled among green leaves.
Perhaps there was some kind of festival going on. It looked like there were more people in the streets than usual, and the music had to mean that there was some kind of band present. Maybe games, even dancing in the town square...
Ahiru sighed, burying her face in her bent arms. That sounded like fun. Lots of cheerful faces, lots of people to laugh with, lots of things to touch and smell and see and do. It certainly would be better than spending her day alone in a dark castle. And in such a crowd, how could being outside be dangerous in the least? She couldn’t even see any ravens --
They’ll rip you to shreds, and the only one you’ll have to blame is your moronic self.
The knight’s -- Fakir, wasn’t it? -- words echoed in her head, sounding more and more preposterous with every passing moment. Sure, the ravens were frightening, but they had stayed away for so long now, almost as if they were hiding in the trees, frightened. The last attack felt like eternities ago, and with the wedding approaching, they were probably giving up, retreating further and further into the forest. None had ever hurt her personally -- only in terrible dreams of screeching, cawing, tearing -- but never in real life, not once. And what did he know, anyway? For all she could tell, he was just a big, paranoid jerk, determined to ruin everyone’s fun.
She stood at once, her mind easily made up, already rummaging through her mess of clothes a second later. If she wasn’t going to be able to attend the ball, she told herself, draping a cloak across her shoulders, pulling the hood over her ruffled hair, the least she could do was enjoy herself in a perfectly safe outdoors.
- - -
Sneaking out of the castle, Ahiru discovered, was a lot easier than previously thought. With a moth-eaten cloak on her shoulders and a hood shadowing her face, the few faces she passed in the hallway didn’t even bother with a second glance, obviously thinking her to be some sort of servant -- which made it even simpler to sneak out the door used as the servant’s entrance for bringing in town-bought goods. Once outside, she stood still for a moment, looking to the sun, just beginning to dip lower in the sky -- plenty of time. With a smile, she squished the bottoms of her shoes deep in the grass. A small, giddy part of her almost wanted to abandon all thoughts of going into town, to instead throw her shoes off and spend her time running around in the grass, climbing trees, picking flowers. A silly idea, she thought, but grinned all the same.
Okay...but just for a minute!
She slid off both shoes, giggling when the grass ticked the soles of her feet. Gathering her skirt in her hands, she performed a little twirl for fun, the wind fresh and cool as it gathered in the swallow of her hood.
She saw someone approaching, then -- a man carrying two large baskets of what looked like bread -- and with a twinge of reluctance, gathered her shoes up once more and held the entrance open for him. That was enough of that. After all, things were sure to be even more fun in town!
The quick trip down the dirt path was rather uneventful. She passed by a few chatting servants on their way back to the castle. A wooden carriage with a burly man at the reigns and three shrieking children standing in the back waved to her. A few knights -- and she pulled her hood a little closer at this realization -- on horseback passed her on their way to the forests’ edge, faces stoic.
The town on the other hand, was wild with excitement. Ahiru quickly found herself thrown into the crowd, chatting, laughing, hurrying to and fro, and despite finding it hard to keep her balance amidst all the shuffling forms, she couldn’t help but laugh as well.
Having spent so much time with so few people, with such familiar sights over and over again, it was impossible to not be overwhelmed by all there was to see. Colorful buildings lined both sides of the street. Tall stands rested before each open door, decorated with food, with tools, with trinkets of all shapes and sizes to buy. Up ahead, she could see a small band in the center of town, playing short, soft melodies, their tunes picking up with righteous joy when someone stopped to throw a coin at their feet.
Ahiru wasn’t sure where to begin; took to walking the length of the path, unwilling to miss even one sight to be seen.
“Hot meals!” An overzealous woman towered over her, holding a steaming dish. “Would you care to try a hot meal? You must be hungry!”
“Oh no, I’m fine, thank you,” Ahiru raised a cautious hand, nodding as she hurried past, only to find a handful of colorful flowers thrust under her nose.
“A flower for you?” A beautiful blonde girl said, plucking a daisy from the bunch and holding it out. “No charge! Flowers should be shared freely with everyone!”
“T-That’s very nice!” Ahiru took it from her, threading the stem through her fingers, but promptly dropped it a few seconds later when she stumbled on a mess of rose petals strewn along the ground.
“Bonjour, mon cherie!” A sighing man sat at his own stand, the words ‘kissing booth’ etched into the wood. Glancing around, Ahiru realized this was the only area in town that seemed truly deserted. “I see you have found yourself drawn to me, as countless others before you! Do not despair, my lady! For only a single coin, you may lay your lips across my own, and all of your longing shall disappear in lieu of my riveting perfection!”
“Ah, no thank you! I really don’t have any money, I’m very sorry,” she stammered. In her haste to back away, she bumped into a nearby stand, sending a few items clattering across the wood. A man standing nearby dove to catch a lamp just before it tumbled off.
“Careful there! This stuff’s expensive!”
“Sorry!” Ahiru squeaked, taking a moment to catch her breath and make sure her hood hadn’t fallen in all the chaos. With wide eyes, she turned back, glancing over countless heads and the fringes of the forest. The castle looked so small all the way back up the path, and she couldn’t help but smile, feeling quite exhilarated.
Where was she? She glanced over the items on the open table -- a few ornate lamps, a collection of feathered quills, three stacks of thick books -- then up at the little building it belonged to, a few milling forms visible through the open window. Bookstore.
She had always liked to read. Edel had a wonderful collection of myths and fairytales she had shared with Ahiru as child, who had in turn read them to Uzura, even performing funny voices and acting out climatic scenes, much to the little girl‘s delight. She grabbed a book from one of the stacks and thumbed through the crinkling pages. She didn’t have any money with her now, but maybe there would be a way to sneak back at a later day. There were only so many stories in the castle, and to have a new tale to share, a new happy ending to smile about would be wonderful.
None of the books on the stand were of the sort, though. Maybe inside, she thought. Through the open window, a vaguely familiar voice said “not today,” but she didn’t think anything of it, stepping up to the door --
-- and promptly jumping away, catching her gasp in the folds of her hood as the knight from the day before - Fakir - stepped out.
He didn’t notice her, looking up to the sky for a moment before descending down to the path with a few quick steps. It looked as though he was going to join the crowds, but then he turned back to the table, and Ahiru, blind with panic, did the only sensible thing she could think of: duck beneath it.
What was he doing here? He hadn’t followed her, had he? No, that wasn’t possible, no one had seen her leave, she was sure of it! If she was caught now, she’d never hear the end of it, not from him, not from Edel, not from the entire Council… so what should she do!?
Pulling her hood as tight as possible, she peered over the edge of the table to see if he had left yet. He hadn’t, and she watched as he picked up the same book she had just a second ago and flipped it open. It didn’t seem like he was looking for her. He didn’t seem as angry as he had the other day, either. He didn’t look particularly happy either, granted, but he did seem…calmer, in a way. He put the book down after a moment and moved over to the feathered quills, fingering a few of them.
What would he need a quill for?
She shook the thought out of her head. What was she doing!? It wasn’t the time to be sitting here and pondering pointless questions, it was time to run away!
Gathering up her trailing skirt beneath her knees, she crawled as quickly as she could to the end of the stand before rising as calmly and innocently as possible. Just a few steps, she thought, and turned.
Turned a little too fast, it seemed, because her hip banged against the edge of the table, sending the same lamp straight off the edge. The man watching the stand cried out, miraculously managed to catch it once more. He fixed Ahiru with a murderous glare.
“What did I just tell you, kid!?”
She should have done something more, but Fakir was turning behind him, looking to see what was going on, and she gathered her skirt in her hands without so much as a second thought.
“If you can’t be less than clumsy, then you best get the hell out of --”
“I’m so sorry!”
That was all Ahiru managed to squeak out before turning and running back onto the length of the street, too afraid to look back and see if he’d realized, too startled to stop even as the houses on either side grew more slipshod and spaced out, as the crowd around her shrunk and eventually disappeared altogether.
In fact, she didn’t even think to stop until there was no more road to travel on. The dirt thinned, giving way to wild grass beneath her feet, and she finally skidded to a stop, steadied on her knees, breathing hard. Finally feeling brave enough to glance back, she did so, praying that she hadn’t been followed. There was no one. In fact...
She stood up straight and blinked once, twice. There was no one at all. A few dark houses. A handful of green leaves scattered on the ground. If she squinted back up the path, she could make out a few blurry forms moving in and out of buildings in the distance -- but as far as the stretch of road she found herself standing at the edge of, she was alone. Just how far had she come?
Ahiru turned back to face the front again; found her vision flooded with green, with countless towering trees, stretching past one another for what looked like an eternity.
The forest, she realized. She was standing at the very edge of town, so close that she could practically reach out and touch the jagged bark. She found the thought both terrifying and exhilarating: after all, she’d heard enough horror stories about the forest surrounding the town to last her a lifetime. How villagers would venture in to hunt and never be heard of again. How ghosts took on the innocent forms of children and led unsuspecting passerby to torturous deaths. How trees oozed not sap, but warm blood.
She would have never thought in a million years she’d be so close. For a brief, irrational moment, she almost wanted to step off the path, to stand in the shadows beneath the nearest tree’s gaping branches and be able to say that yes, she had ventured into the horrible forest, and been just fine!
In the end, though, Ahiru found the idea a little too daring for her liking and turned back towards the rest of the town. When would it be safe to go back? She had no idea, and looked to the sky, searching for the sun amidst the gigantic forms of the trees. It seemed to have sunk much further than she’d bargained for. Had she really been in town so long? Time was running out. If she couldn’t make it back before nightfall...
...she was absolutely not going to think about what would happen. She would make it back in time, she would.
It was then that Ahiru, with her wandering gaze, realized something peculiar. One of the houses, the last on the left, had a stand sitting in front of it.
That was strange. There was no one around to partake, to even spare a glance. Why wouldn’t they take their merchandise closer to the center of town? Curiosity getting the better of her, she ventured over.
There was nothing very exceptional to see. A few books with worn covers. A tea set, the cups and pot decorated with painted flowers and faded gold trimming. A pair of red shoes, so ratty that whoever had worn them last must have never stopped moving. She held them in her hands for a moment, but set them down just as easily. Maybe whoever owned this stand was embarrassed because their goods weren’t of the best quality?
A red glint caught her eye, then, and she glanced further down the table. A round red stone -- no, not stone, it looked more like glass -- rested all alone at the edge, attached to a simple chain. There was nothing special about it, it was just a simple necklace, but still Ahiru found herself reaching out a careful hand to touch it and hold it the palm of her hand for just a moment...
“Caught your fancy, has it?”
She nearly fell over, startled by the booming voice. Calming down, she realized, rather sheepishly, that she hadn’t been alone all this time. There was a man resting at the door of the house, seated in a chair that softly creaked as he shifted to straighten his stance. She squinted in an attempt to see him more clearly, but his awning cast him in thick shadow. There was a pair of legs and the curling ends of a white beard, but that was all she could make out.
“I’m sorry?”
“Why, the pendant! Lovely thing, isn’t it? A stone to frame that empty neck of yours!”
Ahiru traced two fingers down the curve of her neck and looked to the pendant once more. It almost seemed like it was glowing: a trick of the sun, she was sure. Maybe she would try it on, wear it for just a moment...
“I feel compelled to issue a sound warning, though!”
The man almost seemed to be chuckling, gasps of sunlight catching along portions of his vast beard and his wide face. A breath away from touching the stone, Ahiru hesitated, looking to him once more.
“That trinket bears something quite...extraordinary. Just what it is, I cannot say! Perhaps it will make all your lovely dreams come true. Perhaps it will bring about quite the opposite. Who can say? The surprise is what makes it fun! Of course, the price --”
That was all Ahiru needed to hear; brought her hand back into the folds of her cloak at once, suddenly uneasy. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any money...”
“My dear, who said that I wanted money? That trash is pointless in the end, utterly pointless to all involved!” He paused, and even through the darkness, she could see his lips parting, teeth flashing in a wide grin. “There are much more valuable things to
take from a person than mere money.”
But Ahiru was already moving further down the table, overcome with a sudden, strange wish to put as much distance between herself and the pendant as possible. “I don’t have anything to trade --”
The man easily cut her off. “I see. Your need is not quite great enough yet. Very well, a little more waiting won’t kill anyone -- least of all, myself!“ He seemed to find this hilarious, his hoarse cackling sending an unwelcome shiver through Ahiru. Her gaze drifted over to the pile of weary books completely by accident, something he seemed to notice. “A story, then? Do you like stories?”
“Yes, very much,” Ahiru murmured, picking one up and flipping the cover open. She caught her breath at the incredible illustration threaded across the first page. She had never seen anything quite like it; there had been a few simple sketches squeezed between the lines in some of Edel’s books, but nothing quite like this. The softest of strokes curved within one another to form the fluttering gown of a long-haired, smiling girl with a silver crown upon her head, a bouquet of wildflowers in her hands. A figure stood in the distance, as though watching -- her prince, perhaps? Ahiru ran a careful finger across the page, as though to prove that it wouldn’t smudge away.
The man cleared his throat. “Tell me, what are your favorite kinds of stories?”
Maybe a few moments ago, Ahiru would have felt too uncomfortable to answer -- but now, as she flipped through the wondrous book, glimpsing drawing after drawing of far-away lands, of dancing couples, of battles with mythical creatures, all her hesitation seeped away, and she found her mouth opening without a second thought.
“Oh, all sorts! I like fairytales, mostly. That must sound silly, I know, I should be reading more grown-up things since I almost am one, but it’s just nice to have happy endings to look forward to! Don’t you think?”
The man didn’t answer. He almost seemed to be pondering something, and his wooden chair creaked as he swayed back and forth. Ahiru, embarrassed, wondered if she’d startled him with her rambling. She spoke up once more, if only to fill the silence. “Um, what about you? What are your favorite kinds of stories?”
She could see his grin again. It was like a curved light amidst all the shadow. “Why, I have to say that I can’t agree with you, my dear! Happy endings may be pleasant and warm, but where is the true artistry? Where is the sting of betrayal, the poignancy of sacrifice, the agonizing pain of losing what matters most when all is said and done? I have to say, I’ve always found myself more partial to...darker tales.”
Ahiru couldn’t think of a response to such a strange statement, and buried her gaze in the illustrations once more. It was as if the man had tainted them with his words, though, for they too grew darker with each turned page. Black skies over a cowering crowd, a screaming woman tumbling from a great height, a weeping man cradling a broken body -- she shut it at once, palms trembling against the covers.
“In fact,” the man drawled, “there is a tale I’ve been following for quite some time now. Terribly long thing, full of heartbreaking calamity -- but also hope, so much worthless hope!” He sighed. “However, it’s only half-completed, and I’ve been waiting for the second act for such a long time now.”
Ahiru placed the book back on the stack, but found herself straightening it feverishly, wondering why she hadn’t made a move to leave yet, why she was still here listening to this man rattle on and on about awful things. A lingering moment passed, and she realized he was waiting for her to say something, to ask to know why. A quiet sort of fear was rising up within her, but still, she spoke. “W-Why can’t you finish it?”
She didn’t look up. She could still feel his grin on her, wide and bright.
“Why don’t you tell me, little Ahiru?”
Whatever breath she had died away. Her hands wrenched against the stack of books, sending them scattering across the wooden table, knocking countless trinkets clean off the edge. She took a few quick steps backwards, gripping her cloak tight as though it would protect her.
“How do --- how do you know my name?”
He said nothing, but merely chuckled, a trembling shadow in the darkness. Ahiru meant to yell and demand he tell her, but a sudden screeching distracted her. She bolted her head around to face the forest’s edge.
A lone raven sat perched on a high branch with ragged wings spread wide. It was staring straight at her.
The same irrational fear as always gripped her hard. On instinct, Ahiru attempted to console herself -- it’s just one, one can’t do anything, they’ve never hurt me, they won’t, all that scary stuff isn’t true -- and determined, she turned back to face the man.
He was gone.
She blinked and rubbed her eyes, nothing that a few books and trinkets were still sprawled in the dirt. The table remained unchanged, but the man had vanished. Ahiru found herself staring at little more than a silent house, an abandoned porch. Had she just imagined that entire conversation? Was she losing her mind?
At a loss, she glanced back to the trees, just to make sure the lone raven had stayed in place --
Her body grew still, cold. Both hands tensed, and she gripped them together within the folds of her cloak.
Five ravens now perched on the same branch.
She had to get back up the path, back to where all the people were. Why had she thought it was a good idea to be alone here at the forest’s edge? Why?
Her feet started moving without her, blindly carrying her backwards up the incline. Her body was still turned, eyes held to the gathering ravens, and she prayed once more that they were just watching, that they would all stay there on the forest’s edge, like they were supposed to…
A collective screech rang out, and five pairs of wings spread wide, rose high into the sky, high enough to blot out the sinking sun -- and Ahiru was running, shoes slipping on the fringes on her dress, hands trembling so fiercely that she couldn’t even use them pull it out of the way. She could see people up ahead, milling in doorways, chatting with others met in the street. Violent cawing echoed overhead, and she kept telling herself it was only a little further, a little further until someone could help…
But then the crowds stiffened at the sound and turned to look in her direction. With frantic cries, they gathered up their purchases, their merchandise, their children and disappeared inside buildings without a second thought, failing to even notice the small form coming up the path. Out of breath, her lips formed to move the word ‘help’ --
-- widened in a scream instead as talons tore a clean scrape across her back.
She fell, too stunned to even cry. Another dove towards her, but only managed to seize a handful of her cloak and rip it clean off. Her crumpled braid pooled next to her face, freed. She looked to the sky with dazed eyes, watching as it shifted from black to blue to black, blinking over and over again as though it might all fade away, as if it all could just be another nightmare.
They all descended at once, then, beaks open and pointed, monstrous claws poised, and with a gasping cry, she lifted her arms over her head, clenched her eyes shut ---
-- but felt no pain, instead only hearing an anguished screech echoing above her, then beside her. Ahiru turned her head in its direction, eyes fluttering open once more. A raven’s twitching form lay only inches from her face, trails of black blood gathering in the dirt. One of its wings sliced clean off.
She shifted her head over, catching her breath as she finally saw the figure poised over her, sword gleaming in the faint sun. He turned his head to look at the dying raven, and she saw his eyes for the briefest of moments -- narrowed, emerald.
Fakir!
The remaining ravens flew frantic circles over the two for a moment, but finally seemed to throw caution to the wind and dove once more, aiming for Ahiru -- but Fakir was quick, and in a few swift motions, had sliced through two more without even taking a breath.
He raised his weapon against the one flapping just above, but failed to notice the raven who dove behind him, talons curled. “Look out!” Ahiru cried, and he turned, but stepped aside a hair too late. His sleeve split just above his elbow, a thin line of red gathering under the fabric. Ahiru noticed the injury, alarmed, but if it hurt him at all, she couldn’t tell. Fakir turned once more, gritted his teeth, and with one sweeping motion, tore into the last two cawing birds, sending their separated bodies to the ground at her feet.
Silence.
A few nearby doors creaked open, curious faces appearing in windowpanes. Fakir wiped the few spots of dark blood clean with his sleeve and sheathed the sword.
Ahiru found herself at a loss for words. She tried to stand, but easily fell down once more, the scratch across her back aching with fresh pain.
She didn’t have much time to mull over her options, though, because suddenly Fakir was standing over her. He bent down, so close that his knees brushed her shoulder.
“W-What are you doing?” she managed to squeak out, frightened. What was he going to do? Would he yell again?
He didn’t even look to her face, his own stoic. He bent both arms underneath her trembling form, lifted her into the air, and she promptly found her head pressed to his chest. “Ah, you don’t have to -- I can -- it‘s --” she stammered, reddening, wriggling her legs in a half-hearted attempt to pull free.
He was strong, though, and held her so tightly that she could barely move. He started walking, back up the path towards the castle, all without saying a word. Realizing it was hopeless, Ahiru gathered her arms in her lap, curled her feet so that they wouldn’t hit unsuspecting passersby, and reluctantly settled in for what she hoped would be a short trip.
- - -
Near the forests’ hushed edge, within a gap of road few dared to travel, the tired chair creaked as a familiar man settled against it once more. Withered fingers gathered in the swell of his beard; wide eyes traveled up the beaten path. The knight was little more than a shrinking shadow amidst the faint light, the princess all but hidden in his arms, but still, he watched them go, worn face pulled tight with a grin.
One hand unclenched. The thin chain settled along the lines of his palms, the pendant glowing a dim crimson against the pale color of his skin.
He gripped it hard and allowed himself a hearty laugh.
Another time, perhaps.
- - -
Mytho couldn’t forget it.
It had to have been a mistake, a dream, a hallucination brought on by the moon -- anything but real. Swans didn’t swim at night, didn’t dance, and certainly didn’t turn into beautiful women. He had to be losing his mind to actually think such a thing had happened...
But that night, he’d slept fitfully, his dreams filled with feathers and wings and red beaks that turned into red eyes, red lips. He had woken time and time again, convinced someone was watching him as he slept, only to be greeted with an empty room.
All afternoon, he’d found himself distracted, almost jittery -- while eating, while reading, while walking. He’d spent all day poised before countless windows, eyes focused on the pond as the ducks swam innocent circles around one another. He was waiting for something magical to happen -- but of course, nothing of the sort would.
The black swan was not there. It did not return all day.
And now here he was, standing before yet another window, watching with half-lidded eyes as the sun disappeared far beneath the trees, sky thick with dusk. He watched as the ducks gathered themselves up and nestled together on the edge of what was obviously a normal pond.
Why was he wracking his mind so desperately over this? Why did it feel so important, so dire to know what truth, if any, there was in the sight he’d seen?
He wished he knew.
Resolving to think on it no longer, he turned his gaze towards the town, little more than a dimly colored blur in the distance, the path to the castle spread out before it like an unraveling thread. Usually, there would be no one traveling along it at this time of day: night was quickly descending, and to be caught between shelters in the dark had become dangerous over the years, for the ravens, when desperate enough, made quick work of those foolish enough to try. Still, he could see what looked like a man slowly approaching the castle -- Fakir, he was able to tell a moment later, close enough to glimpse the shape and color of his hair -- with a strangely-shaped bundle in both hands. It seemed to tremble, faint light catching along what looked like a gathered braid, setting it aflame.
Ahiru?
He started down the nearest stairwell at once.
- - -
Apparently a short, painless trip back to the castle was too much to ask for, Ahiru quickly learned. It was already embarrassing enough that she was being carried, of all things. Countless requests to be put down had no effect on Fakir, who appeared to either be deaf or just very good at ignoring her. To make matters even worse, he saw fit to stop and have a conversation with each of the other knights they passed, including those on horseback patrolling the forests around the castle. He told each of them the same story: the attack, the number of ravens, the part of the forest they’d risen from. They all seemed alarmed, asking if she was all right, but when Ahiru opened her mouth to answer, Fakir easily overpowered whatever voice she had with a curt, “she’s fine,” before setting off again. By the time they were finally in the sinking shadow of the castle itself, the sun was gone, dusk heavy in the sky. Still a little bit of time, she reminded herself, wary. But I have to hurry.
“Can you walk?”
They were past the guards now, standing just within the sloping walls. It took her a long moment before she met the emerald eyes looking down at her, and with that she realized he was actually talking to her this time.
“A-Ah,” she fumbled with her words for a moment. “Yes, I think so--ah!”
Her sentence looped off into a startled cry as the arm under her legs suddenly gave way, the other pulling up hard against her shoulders, and she found herself practically thrown to her feet, stumbling a few steps further into the room before finally gaining her balance.
For a fierce moment, twirling back around, she aimed to give him a piece of her mind -- why, he’d just practically dropped her -- but realized, a second later, that there was something else she probably needed to say first. Despite his awful way of going about it the other day, the fact remained that he had been right and she had been wrong. She’d gone outside (he’d said to not), the ravens had attacked (he’d said they would), and despite how frightening it was to consider such an outcome, they would have probably torn her apart if he hadn’t stepped in (which he did, despite her refusal to listen.)
What should she say? I’m sorry? Thank you?
Instead, Ahiru found herself focused on the tear in his sleeve, the fabric stained dark red.
“You’re bleeding,” she said softly, reaching out. “Let me --”
But Fakir pulled away from her touch and fixed her with a glare.
“I’ll only say this once more. Stay inside.” he said, voice so cold that she took a hasty step backwards. He turned from her, began walking away. “Next time, I won’t bother.”
And he was gone, having disappeared into the darkening landscape before she could even think to call after him.
She took a deep breath instead, but barely had a chance to gather up all her jumbled thoughts before her name echoed down a nearby stairwell. A familiar form appeared around the curve of the stone, and she felt better already.
“Mytho,” she called, hurrying over to meet him. He looked worried, his steps towards her hasty, his eyes brimming with obvious concern.
“I saw Fakir carry you in from a window. What’s the matter? Are you hurt?”
He was worried -- about her! A thread of heat fluttered across her cheeks, and she managed a sheepish smile. “Oh, it’s nothing, really, just a little scratch on my back, I’m fine --”
“Why were you out there?” A thought flickered across his face, and his lips twisted into something of amusement. “Did you sneak into town?”
She nodded, and he laughed. “I‘ve done that a few times. Fun, isn’t it?”
There really was no reason to tell him about the ravens, she rationalized. “Y-Yes, lots of fun!”
“Why don’t you tell me about it?” he asked, and took one of her hands in his own, lifting it up into the air between them. “I’m sure the cooks wouldn’t mind providing with a simple dinner. Are you hungry?”
Dinner? Tonight? Just the two of them?
A nervous, much too loud giggle erupted from her mouth at the welcoming thought, and she quickly smothered it with her free hand. “I’m so sorry,” she muttered through her spread fingers, too mortified to look him in the eye, gaze frantically moving from their clasped hands to the smooth floor to the stone steps to the dark window. “I’d love to --”
Dark?
The realization hit hard, so hard that she wrenched her hand out of his at once and spun in a violent circle as she searched for the fastest escape route possible. The stairwell behind him seemed the safest bet. “I-I can’t, Mytho, I’m so sorry, I really am,“ she stammered, gathering her skirt up over her shoes in two trembling clumps, “but I, I have this awful allergy and it’s about to start acting up, and I really wish I could stay, but I can’t...”
Bewilderment flashed across his face, and she felt so awful in that moment that she wanted to cry. This was the second time in two days she’d run from him like a crazy person. He had to be thinking the most horrible things about her, that she was confusing, irrational, rude...
That’s okay, she insisted to herself, because if he saw what was to come next, he’d think something much worse.
And then she was running once more, doing her best to ignore the spasms of pain in her back as she hurtled up the stone steps, down the shadowed hallways. Each window she hurried past allowed her a desperate glance at the sky. All she had to do was make it to her room…
But there was the moon, curved and blinding in the sky, and she realized in horror that there was not enough time. Hadn’t she been reminding herself all day to keep an eye on the sun? Hadn’t the whole point been to make it back to her perfectly safe room with plenty of time to spare? Stupid, stupid, stupid...!
Miss Edel and Uzura’s room!
The thought struck her like the brightest of beacons, and she turned a sudden corner, reenergized. It was near here, wasn’t it? The quarters of a few noble families, then a handful of storage rooms, then ---
Yes!
The familiar red door loomed ahead of her like a long-lost friend, and skidding to a stop, she clenched her fist and managed one solid knock before ---
The handle turned slowly, deliberately. The door creaked open a few inches, revealing one of Uzura’s blue eyes. “Who’s there-zura?”
The little girl’s wary gaze searched all around the quiet hallway, from the sloped ceiling to the stone walls to the smooth floor -- where a dress rested in a heap, empty.
“Ohhhh,” Uzura murmured, and hurried out to see. Little hands gripped at the soft fabric, pushing fold after fold aside. The open neck hole remained buried beneath the swell of the skirt and she pulled it closer, pressing the fabric around it flat to the stone. Her eyes widening when she saw what lay beneath.
A small, sighing duck sat amidst the massive dress, feathers ruffled.
Uzura smiled. With a laugh, she grabbed both bird and dress up in her little arms and hurried back inside to show her mother.
“Ahiru’s here-zura!”
- - -
A/N: Well, that's it for today~! This is the first I'm not updating in
princesstutu, so I'm a little nervous about people sticking around. If you're out there and reading, it would be lovely to hear from you. <33
Comments are appreciated, as always! New chapter next week! :D
~
Rating: PG-13/T
Chapter Two ~ 7321 words. [Prologue] [Chapter One]
Summary: Ahiru breaks the rules, and experiences the wonders -- and dangers -- of the town firsthand.
“I will not be blamed. It isn‘t my fault that you refused to listen --”
“This is unacceptable, Edel! We’ve been planning this for months --”
“ -- and I am telling you, with all due respect, that it cannot be done.”
“What are they talking about-zura?”
“Shh, I can’t hear...”
“I’ve told you time and time again of her severe allergy to moonlight --”
“ -- it’s necessary for her to make an appearance. The people know next to nothing of her, there must be a way --”
“Is that what you want? For her to have some sort of seizure in front of so many? That would make quite the first impression, I’m sure --”
The voices quieted. Ahiru pressed her ear against the door as hard as she could, but could no longer make out anything other than a few disjointed words, meaningless on their own. Sighing, she rested her forehead to the wood. At her side, Uzura mimicked the position and blinked up at her, concern brimming within her wide eyes.
“What’s wrong-zura?”
Ahiru glanced over, managing a smile. “Don’t worry, I’m okay. There’s just…a very important ball going on tomorrow and I can’t be there.”
“Why-zura?”
She hesitated a moment before answering. “Well, it’s at night.”
Uzura’s little mouth formed a circle. “Ohhhh,” she breathed, and rose both arms into the air, flapping them up and down a few hasty times. “’Cause of ---?”
“Yes,” Ahiru gently cut her off, not wanting to hear the word at the moment. “That.”
The door opened, then, so fast that Ahiru almost fell right along with it, but she managed to sway on her tiptoes instead as Edel stepped inside, expression unreadable.
Silence. Her caretaker pulled the handle into place once more, eyes dark, lips thin.
Steadying herself, Ahiru clutched both hands together within the folds of her skirt and met the woman’s gaze at once, unable to contain her anxiousness. “Well?”
Edel’s shoulders gave a gentle heave, and a look of relief finally surfaced. “It will go on without you.”
Uzura laughed at once. “No ball for Ahiru-zura!”
The little girl ran to gather her drum from where she had dropped it in all the excitement. Edel sunk into the nearest chair, a delicate hand pressed to her forehead. Ahiru, meanwhile, couldn’t bring herself to move, still unable to believe it. She’d been so certain that it was her secret’s final hour, that the Council would drag her to the ball and inadvertently reveal to the world the awful truth she’d tried so hard to hide. Relief flooded her -- but still, it felt cold, almost unwelcome as all its meaning seeped in. Uzura’s words rung in her ears: No ball for Ahiru.
“Really?” She took a careful step towards Edel. “They said it was okay?”
“How could they not?” A tired smile fluttered across the woman’s face. “I told them you’d go into conniptions at the mere sight of the moon.”
Ahiru managed a laugh. “That’s very good.”
“I thought so.”
A quiet moment passed. Uzura banged away blithely in the corner, singing. “No ball, no ball, no ball!”
“We won’t be able to hide this forever.”
The words rung through the air, settling along the curve of her shoulders, their weight almost painful. She felt Edel’s careful gaze held to her, but Ahiru couldn’t bring herself to meet it once more, so she turned to face the window instead, late afternoon sun pouring in.
“This day was to come eventually.”
“I know that,” she answered, voice soft. Desperate for warmth, she crossed to the window with a few quick steps and rested her elbows along the sill.
“You’ll be married soon,” Edel continued. “The truth will have to come out, despite the consequences. The prince, he --”
“He’ll have to know, he’ll have to know everything,” Ahiru finished the thought, cradling her chin in both open palms as she watched a few forms mill in the clearing beneath her, carrying baskets into town, leading horses to the stables. “I understand but I’m just -- I’m ---”
Her words faltered, so staunchly that she could feel both Edel and Uzura‘s gazes, heavy on her back.
She didn’t turn to make sure. She didn’t finish the thought, instead starting a new one with the cheeriest voice she could muster up. “Thank you, Miss Edel, for speaking to them.”
“You’re welcome.” Edel’s voice was soft, filled with warm understanding, and she took her still-singing daughter by the arm, leading her out of the room without so much as another word on the issue. “Come, Uzura, let’s leave Ahiru for a while.”
The door shut behind them with a sharp click, and Ahiru was alone with her thoughts, an endless view of trees and buildings and people framed by her window.
They would all have to know.
The thought terrified her -- she couldn’t bring herself to pretend like it didn’t. What would they think? She had prayed all her life in the desperate hopes that she wouldn’t have to find out, that she’d wake one morning only to find that the...deformity had vanished. She’d probably wished it on every star in the sky at some point -- and still, nothing.
A small, fragile part of her still held out faith. Maybe the wedding! Maybe when she was married, and the ravens were gone, and everything was perfect; surely there was no room for her problem amidst such a happy end. Surely it would vanish or be snuffed out as simply as an aging candlewick...
But if not...
The truth will have to come out, despite the consequences.
Ahiru refused to spend another moment thinking about it. She forced her lips into a perfect smile and giggled at the angry lines the stone sill had imprinted on her arms. No reason to ruin a perfectly good day with such thoughts! So she couldn’t go the ball. There were lots of other things she could do! Like read a book, or practice her dancing, or take a walk around the castle, or...
The faintest of music seeped into her thoughts, and she hummed along with the tune for a few unsuspecting moments before realizing that it wasn’t just in her head. Blinking, she leaned further out the window.
It was coming from town. She squinted as hard as possible down the meandering path, but could only make out countless blurs of people passing through and brown and black roofs nestled among green leaves.
Perhaps there was some kind of festival going on. It looked like there were more people in the streets than usual, and the music had to mean that there was some kind of band present. Maybe games, even dancing in the town square...
Ahiru sighed, burying her face in her bent arms. That sounded like fun. Lots of cheerful faces, lots of people to laugh with, lots of things to touch and smell and see and do. It certainly would be better than spending her day alone in a dark castle. And in such a crowd, how could being outside be dangerous in the least? She couldn’t even see any ravens --
They’ll rip you to shreds, and the only one you’ll have to blame is your moronic self.
The knight’s -- Fakir, wasn’t it? -- words echoed in her head, sounding more and more preposterous with every passing moment. Sure, the ravens were frightening, but they had stayed away for so long now, almost as if they were hiding in the trees, frightened. The last attack felt like eternities ago, and with the wedding approaching, they were probably giving up, retreating further and further into the forest. None had ever hurt her personally -- only in terrible dreams of screeching, cawing, tearing -- but never in real life, not once. And what did he know, anyway? For all she could tell, he was just a big, paranoid jerk, determined to ruin everyone’s fun.
She stood at once, her mind easily made up, already rummaging through her mess of clothes a second later. If she wasn’t going to be able to attend the ball, she told herself, draping a cloak across her shoulders, pulling the hood over her ruffled hair, the least she could do was enjoy herself in a perfectly safe outdoors.
- - -
Sneaking out of the castle, Ahiru discovered, was a lot easier than previously thought. With a moth-eaten cloak on her shoulders and a hood shadowing her face, the few faces she passed in the hallway didn’t even bother with a second glance, obviously thinking her to be some sort of servant -- which made it even simpler to sneak out the door used as the servant’s entrance for bringing in town-bought goods. Once outside, she stood still for a moment, looking to the sun, just beginning to dip lower in the sky -- plenty of time. With a smile, she squished the bottoms of her shoes deep in the grass. A small, giddy part of her almost wanted to abandon all thoughts of going into town, to instead throw her shoes off and spend her time running around in the grass, climbing trees, picking flowers. A silly idea, she thought, but grinned all the same.
Okay...but just for a minute!
She slid off both shoes, giggling when the grass ticked the soles of her feet. Gathering her skirt in her hands, she performed a little twirl for fun, the wind fresh and cool as it gathered in the swallow of her hood.
She saw someone approaching, then -- a man carrying two large baskets of what looked like bread -- and with a twinge of reluctance, gathered her shoes up once more and held the entrance open for him. That was enough of that. After all, things were sure to be even more fun in town!
The quick trip down the dirt path was rather uneventful. She passed by a few chatting servants on their way back to the castle. A wooden carriage with a burly man at the reigns and three shrieking children standing in the back waved to her. A few knights -- and she pulled her hood a little closer at this realization -- on horseback passed her on their way to the forests’ edge, faces stoic.
The town on the other hand, was wild with excitement. Ahiru quickly found herself thrown into the crowd, chatting, laughing, hurrying to and fro, and despite finding it hard to keep her balance amidst all the shuffling forms, she couldn’t help but laugh as well.
Having spent so much time with so few people, with such familiar sights over and over again, it was impossible to not be overwhelmed by all there was to see. Colorful buildings lined both sides of the street. Tall stands rested before each open door, decorated with food, with tools, with trinkets of all shapes and sizes to buy. Up ahead, she could see a small band in the center of town, playing short, soft melodies, their tunes picking up with righteous joy when someone stopped to throw a coin at their feet.
Ahiru wasn’t sure where to begin; took to walking the length of the path, unwilling to miss even one sight to be seen.
“Hot meals!” An overzealous woman towered over her, holding a steaming dish. “Would you care to try a hot meal? You must be hungry!”
“Oh no, I’m fine, thank you,” Ahiru raised a cautious hand, nodding as she hurried past, only to find a handful of colorful flowers thrust under her nose.
“A flower for you?” A beautiful blonde girl said, plucking a daisy from the bunch and holding it out. “No charge! Flowers should be shared freely with everyone!”
“T-That’s very nice!” Ahiru took it from her, threading the stem through her fingers, but promptly dropped it a few seconds later when she stumbled on a mess of rose petals strewn along the ground.
“Bonjour, mon cherie!” A sighing man sat at his own stand, the words ‘kissing booth’ etched into the wood. Glancing around, Ahiru realized this was the only area in town that seemed truly deserted. “I see you have found yourself drawn to me, as countless others before you! Do not despair, my lady! For only a single coin, you may lay your lips across my own, and all of your longing shall disappear in lieu of my riveting perfection!”
“Ah, no thank you! I really don’t have any money, I’m very sorry,” she stammered. In her haste to back away, she bumped into a nearby stand, sending a few items clattering across the wood. A man standing nearby dove to catch a lamp just before it tumbled off.
“Careful there! This stuff’s expensive!”
“Sorry!” Ahiru squeaked, taking a moment to catch her breath and make sure her hood hadn’t fallen in all the chaos. With wide eyes, she turned back, glancing over countless heads and the fringes of the forest. The castle looked so small all the way back up the path, and she couldn’t help but smile, feeling quite exhilarated.
Where was she? She glanced over the items on the open table -- a few ornate lamps, a collection of feathered quills, three stacks of thick books -- then up at the little building it belonged to, a few milling forms visible through the open window. Bookstore.
She had always liked to read. Edel had a wonderful collection of myths and fairytales she had shared with Ahiru as child, who had in turn read them to Uzura, even performing funny voices and acting out climatic scenes, much to the little girl‘s delight. She grabbed a book from one of the stacks and thumbed through the crinkling pages. She didn’t have any money with her now, but maybe there would be a way to sneak back at a later day. There were only so many stories in the castle, and to have a new tale to share, a new happy ending to smile about would be wonderful.
None of the books on the stand were of the sort, though. Maybe inside, she thought. Through the open window, a vaguely familiar voice said “not today,” but she didn’t think anything of it, stepping up to the door --
-- and promptly jumping away, catching her gasp in the folds of her hood as the knight from the day before - Fakir - stepped out.
He didn’t notice her, looking up to the sky for a moment before descending down to the path with a few quick steps. It looked as though he was going to join the crowds, but then he turned back to the table, and Ahiru, blind with panic, did the only sensible thing she could think of: duck beneath it.
What was he doing here? He hadn’t followed her, had he? No, that wasn’t possible, no one had seen her leave, she was sure of it! If she was caught now, she’d never hear the end of it, not from him, not from Edel, not from the entire Council… so what should she do!?
Pulling her hood as tight as possible, she peered over the edge of the table to see if he had left yet. He hadn’t, and she watched as he picked up the same book she had just a second ago and flipped it open. It didn’t seem like he was looking for her. He didn’t seem as angry as he had the other day, either. He didn’t look particularly happy either, granted, but he did seem…calmer, in a way. He put the book down after a moment and moved over to the feathered quills, fingering a few of them.
What would he need a quill for?
She shook the thought out of her head. What was she doing!? It wasn’t the time to be sitting here and pondering pointless questions, it was time to run away!
Gathering up her trailing skirt beneath her knees, she crawled as quickly as she could to the end of the stand before rising as calmly and innocently as possible. Just a few steps, she thought, and turned.
Turned a little too fast, it seemed, because her hip banged against the edge of the table, sending the same lamp straight off the edge. The man watching the stand cried out, miraculously managed to catch it once more. He fixed Ahiru with a murderous glare.
“What did I just tell you, kid!?”
She should have done something more, but Fakir was turning behind him, looking to see what was going on, and she gathered her skirt in her hands without so much as a second thought.
“If you can’t be less than clumsy, then you best get the hell out of --”
“I’m so sorry!”
That was all Ahiru managed to squeak out before turning and running back onto the length of the street, too afraid to look back and see if he’d realized, too startled to stop even as the houses on either side grew more slipshod and spaced out, as the crowd around her shrunk and eventually disappeared altogether.
In fact, she didn’t even think to stop until there was no more road to travel on. The dirt thinned, giving way to wild grass beneath her feet, and she finally skidded to a stop, steadied on her knees, breathing hard. Finally feeling brave enough to glance back, she did so, praying that she hadn’t been followed. There was no one. In fact...
She stood up straight and blinked once, twice. There was no one at all. A few dark houses. A handful of green leaves scattered on the ground. If she squinted back up the path, she could make out a few blurry forms moving in and out of buildings in the distance -- but as far as the stretch of road she found herself standing at the edge of, she was alone. Just how far had she come?
Ahiru turned back to face the front again; found her vision flooded with green, with countless towering trees, stretching past one another for what looked like an eternity.
The forest, she realized. She was standing at the very edge of town, so close that she could practically reach out and touch the jagged bark. She found the thought both terrifying and exhilarating: after all, she’d heard enough horror stories about the forest surrounding the town to last her a lifetime. How villagers would venture in to hunt and never be heard of again. How ghosts took on the innocent forms of children and led unsuspecting passerby to torturous deaths. How trees oozed not sap, but warm blood.
She would have never thought in a million years she’d be so close. For a brief, irrational moment, she almost wanted to step off the path, to stand in the shadows beneath the nearest tree’s gaping branches and be able to say that yes, she had ventured into the horrible forest, and been just fine!
In the end, though, Ahiru found the idea a little too daring for her liking and turned back towards the rest of the town. When would it be safe to go back? She had no idea, and looked to the sky, searching for the sun amidst the gigantic forms of the trees. It seemed to have sunk much further than she’d bargained for. Had she really been in town so long? Time was running out. If she couldn’t make it back before nightfall...
...she was absolutely not going to think about what would happen. She would make it back in time, she would.
It was then that Ahiru, with her wandering gaze, realized something peculiar. One of the houses, the last on the left, had a stand sitting in front of it.
That was strange. There was no one around to partake, to even spare a glance. Why wouldn’t they take their merchandise closer to the center of town? Curiosity getting the better of her, she ventured over.
There was nothing very exceptional to see. A few books with worn covers. A tea set, the cups and pot decorated with painted flowers and faded gold trimming. A pair of red shoes, so ratty that whoever had worn them last must have never stopped moving. She held them in her hands for a moment, but set them down just as easily. Maybe whoever owned this stand was embarrassed because their goods weren’t of the best quality?
A red glint caught her eye, then, and she glanced further down the table. A round red stone -- no, not stone, it looked more like glass -- rested all alone at the edge, attached to a simple chain. There was nothing special about it, it was just a simple necklace, but still Ahiru found herself reaching out a careful hand to touch it and hold it the palm of her hand for just a moment...
“Caught your fancy, has it?”
She nearly fell over, startled by the booming voice. Calming down, she realized, rather sheepishly, that she hadn’t been alone all this time. There was a man resting at the door of the house, seated in a chair that softly creaked as he shifted to straighten his stance. She squinted in an attempt to see him more clearly, but his awning cast him in thick shadow. There was a pair of legs and the curling ends of a white beard, but that was all she could make out.
“I’m sorry?”
“Why, the pendant! Lovely thing, isn’t it? A stone to frame that empty neck of yours!”
Ahiru traced two fingers down the curve of her neck and looked to the pendant once more. It almost seemed like it was glowing: a trick of the sun, she was sure. Maybe she would try it on, wear it for just a moment...
“I feel compelled to issue a sound warning, though!”
The man almost seemed to be chuckling, gasps of sunlight catching along portions of his vast beard and his wide face. A breath away from touching the stone, Ahiru hesitated, looking to him once more.
“That trinket bears something quite...extraordinary. Just what it is, I cannot say! Perhaps it will make all your lovely dreams come true. Perhaps it will bring about quite the opposite. Who can say? The surprise is what makes it fun! Of course, the price --”
That was all Ahiru needed to hear; brought her hand back into the folds of her cloak at once, suddenly uneasy. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any money...”
“My dear, who said that I wanted money? That trash is pointless in the end, utterly pointless to all involved!” He paused, and even through the darkness, she could see his lips parting, teeth flashing in a wide grin. “There are much more valuable things to
take from a person than mere money.”
But Ahiru was already moving further down the table, overcome with a sudden, strange wish to put as much distance between herself and the pendant as possible. “I don’t have anything to trade --”
The man easily cut her off. “I see. Your need is not quite great enough yet. Very well, a little more waiting won’t kill anyone -- least of all, myself!“ He seemed to find this hilarious, his hoarse cackling sending an unwelcome shiver through Ahiru. Her gaze drifted over to the pile of weary books completely by accident, something he seemed to notice. “A story, then? Do you like stories?”
“Yes, very much,” Ahiru murmured, picking one up and flipping the cover open. She caught her breath at the incredible illustration threaded across the first page. She had never seen anything quite like it; there had been a few simple sketches squeezed between the lines in some of Edel’s books, but nothing quite like this. The softest of strokes curved within one another to form the fluttering gown of a long-haired, smiling girl with a silver crown upon her head, a bouquet of wildflowers in her hands. A figure stood in the distance, as though watching -- her prince, perhaps? Ahiru ran a careful finger across the page, as though to prove that it wouldn’t smudge away.
The man cleared his throat. “Tell me, what are your favorite kinds of stories?”
Maybe a few moments ago, Ahiru would have felt too uncomfortable to answer -- but now, as she flipped through the wondrous book, glimpsing drawing after drawing of far-away lands, of dancing couples, of battles with mythical creatures, all her hesitation seeped away, and she found her mouth opening without a second thought.
“Oh, all sorts! I like fairytales, mostly. That must sound silly, I know, I should be reading more grown-up things since I almost am one, but it’s just nice to have happy endings to look forward to! Don’t you think?”
The man didn’t answer. He almost seemed to be pondering something, and his wooden chair creaked as he swayed back and forth. Ahiru, embarrassed, wondered if she’d startled him with her rambling. She spoke up once more, if only to fill the silence. “Um, what about you? What are your favorite kinds of stories?”
She could see his grin again. It was like a curved light amidst all the shadow. “Why, I have to say that I can’t agree with you, my dear! Happy endings may be pleasant and warm, but where is the true artistry? Where is the sting of betrayal, the poignancy of sacrifice, the agonizing pain of losing what matters most when all is said and done? I have to say, I’ve always found myself more partial to...darker tales.”
Ahiru couldn’t think of a response to such a strange statement, and buried her gaze in the illustrations once more. It was as if the man had tainted them with his words, though, for they too grew darker with each turned page. Black skies over a cowering crowd, a screaming woman tumbling from a great height, a weeping man cradling a broken body -- she shut it at once, palms trembling against the covers.
“In fact,” the man drawled, “there is a tale I’ve been following for quite some time now. Terribly long thing, full of heartbreaking calamity -- but also hope, so much worthless hope!” He sighed. “However, it’s only half-completed, and I’ve been waiting for the second act for such a long time now.”
Ahiru placed the book back on the stack, but found herself straightening it feverishly, wondering why she hadn’t made a move to leave yet, why she was still here listening to this man rattle on and on about awful things. A lingering moment passed, and she realized he was waiting for her to say something, to ask to know why. A quiet sort of fear was rising up within her, but still, she spoke. “W-Why can’t you finish it?”
She didn’t look up. She could still feel his grin on her, wide and bright.
“Why don’t you tell me, little Ahiru?”
Whatever breath she had died away. Her hands wrenched against the stack of books, sending them scattering across the wooden table, knocking countless trinkets clean off the edge. She took a few quick steps backwards, gripping her cloak tight as though it would protect her.
“How do --- how do you know my name?”
He said nothing, but merely chuckled, a trembling shadow in the darkness. Ahiru meant to yell and demand he tell her, but a sudden screeching distracted her. She bolted her head around to face the forest’s edge.
A lone raven sat perched on a high branch with ragged wings spread wide. It was staring straight at her.
The same irrational fear as always gripped her hard. On instinct, Ahiru attempted to console herself -- it’s just one, one can’t do anything, they’ve never hurt me, they won’t, all that scary stuff isn’t true -- and determined, she turned back to face the man.
He was gone.
She blinked and rubbed her eyes, nothing that a few books and trinkets were still sprawled in the dirt. The table remained unchanged, but the man had vanished. Ahiru found herself staring at little more than a silent house, an abandoned porch. Had she just imagined that entire conversation? Was she losing her mind?
At a loss, she glanced back to the trees, just to make sure the lone raven had stayed in place --
Her body grew still, cold. Both hands tensed, and she gripped them together within the folds of her cloak.
Five ravens now perched on the same branch.
She had to get back up the path, back to where all the people were. Why had she thought it was a good idea to be alone here at the forest’s edge? Why?
Her feet started moving without her, blindly carrying her backwards up the incline. Her body was still turned, eyes held to the gathering ravens, and she prayed once more that they were just watching, that they would all stay there on the forest’s edge, like they were supposed to…
A collective screech rang out, and five pairs of wings spread wide, rose high into the sky, high enough to blot out the sinking sun -- and Ahiru was running, shoes slipping on the fringes on her dress, hands trembling so fiercely that she couldn’t even use them pull it out of the way. She could see people up ahead, milling in doorways, chatting with others met in the street. Violent cawing echoed overhead, and she kept telling herself it was only a little further, a little further until someone could help…
But then the crowds stiffened at the sound and turned to look in her direction. With frantic cries, they gathered up their purchases, their merchandise, their children and disappeared inside buildings without a second thought, failing to even notice the small form coming up the path. Out of breath, her lips formed to move the word ‘help’ --
-- widened in a scream instead as talons tore a clean scrape across her back.
She fell, too stunned to even cry. Another dove towards her, but only managed to seize a handful of her cloak and rip it clean off. Her crumpled braid pooled next to her face, freed. She looked to the sky with dazed eyes, watching as it shifted from black to blue to black, blinking over and over again as though it might all fade away, as if it all could just be another nightmare.
They all descended at once, then, beaks open and pointed, monstrous claws poised, and with a gasping cry, she lifted her arms over her head, clenched her eyes shut ---
-- but felt no pain, instead only hearing an anguished screech echoing above her, then beside her. Ahiru turned her head in its direction, eyes fluttering open once more. A raven’s twitching form lay only inches from her face, trails of black blood gathering in the dirt. One of its wings sliced clean off.
She shifted her head over, catching her breath as she finally saw the figure poised over her, sword gleaming in the faint sun. He turned his head to look at the dying raven, and she saw his eyes for the briefest of moments -- narrowed, emerald.
Fakir!
The remaining ravens flew frantic circles over the two for a moment, but finally seemed to throw caution to the wind and dove once more, aiming for Ahiru -- but Fakir was quick, and in a few swift motions, had sliced through two more without even taking a breath.
He raised his weapon against the one flapping just above, but failed to notice the raven who dove behind him, talons curled. “Look out!” Ahiru cried, and he turned, but stepped aside a hair too late. His sleeve split just above his elbow, a thin line of red gathering under the fabric. Ahiru noticed the injury, alarmed, but if it hurt him at all, she couldn’t tell. Fakir turned once more, gritted his teeth, and with one sweeping motion, tore into the last two cawing birds, sending their separated bodies to the ground at her feet.
Silence.
A few nearby doors creaked open, curious faces appearing in windowpanes. Fakir wiped the few spots of dark blood clean with his sleeve and sheathed the sword.
Ahiru found herself at a loss for words. She tried to stand, but easily fell down once more, the scratch across her back aching with fresh pain.
She didn’t have much time to mull over her options, though, because suddenly Fakir was standing over her. He bent down, so close that his knees brushed her shoulder.
“W-What are you doing?” she managed to squeak out, frightened. What was he going to do? Would he yell again?
He didn’t even look to her face, his own stoic. He bent both arms underneath her trembling form, lifted her into the air, and she promptly found her head pressed to his chest. “Ah, you don’t have to -- I can -- it‘s --” she stammered, reddening, wriggling her legs in a half-hearted attempt to pull free.
He was strong, though, and held her so tightly that she could barely move. He started walking, back up the path towards the castle, all without saying a word. Realizing it was hopeless, Ahiru gathered her arms in her lap, curled her feet so that they wouldn’t hit unsuspecting passersby, and reluctantly settled in for what she hoped would be a short trip.
- - -
Near the forests’ hushed edge, within a gap of road few dared to travel, the tired chair creaked as a familiar man settled against it once more. Withered fingers gathered in the swell of his beard; wide eyes traveled up the beaten path. The knight was little more than a shrinking shadow amidst the faint light, the princess all but hidden in his arms, but still, he watched them go, worn face pulled tight with a grin.
One hand unclenched. The thin chain settled along the lines of his palms, the pendant glowing a dim crimson against the pale color of his skin.
He gripped it hard and allowed himself a hearty laugh.
Another time, perhaps.
- - -
Mytho couldn’t forget it.
It had to have been a mistake, a dream, a hallucination brought on by the moon -- anything but real. Swans didn’t swim at night, didn’t dance, and certainly didn’t turn into beautiful women. He had to be losing his mind to actually think such a thing had happened...
But that night, he’d slept fitfully, his dreams filled with feathers and wings and red beaks that turned into red eyes, red lips. He had woken time and time again, convinced someone was watching him as he slept, only to be greeted with an empty room.
All afternoon, he’d found himself distracted, almost jittery -- while eating, while reading, while walking. He’d spent all day poised before countless windows, eyes focused on the pond as the ducks swam innocent circles around one another. He was waiting for something magical to happen -- but of course, nothing of the sort would.
The black swan was not there. It did not return all day.
And now here he was, standing before yet another window, watching with half-lidded eyes as the sun disappeared far beneath the trees, sky thick with dusk. He watched as the ducks gathered themselves up and nestled together on the edge of what was obviously a normal pond.
Why was he wracking his mind so desperately over this? Why did it feel so important, so dire to know what truth, if any, there was in the sight he’d seen?
He wished he knew.
Resolving to think on it no longer, he turned his gaze towards the town, little more than a dimly colored blur in the distance, the path to the castle spread out before it like an unraveling thread. Usually, there would be no one traveling along it at this time of day: night was quickly descending, and to be caught between shelters in the dark had become dangerous over the years, for the ravens, when desperate enough, made quick work of those foolish enough to try. Still, he could see what looked like a man slowly approaching the castle -- Fakir, he was able to tell a moment later, close enough to glimpse the shape and color of his hair -- with a strangely-shaped bundle in both hands. It seemed to tremble, faint light catching along what looked like a gathered braid, setting it aflame.
Ahiru?
He started down the nearest stairwell at once.
- - -
Apparently a short, painless trip back to the castle was too much to ask for, Ahiru quickly learned. It was already embarrassing enough that she was being carried, of all things. Countless requests to be put down had no effect on Fakir, who appeared to either be deaf or just very good at ignoring her. To make matters even worse, he saw fit to stop and have a conversation with each of the other knights they passed, including those on horseback patrolling the forests around the castle. He told each of them the same story: the attack, the number of ravens, the part of the forest they’d risen from. They all seemed alarmed, asking if she was all right, but when Ahiru opened her mouth to answer, Fakir easily overpowered whatever voice she had with a curt, “she’s fine,” before setting off again. By the time they were finally in the sinking shadow of the castle itself, the sun was gone, dusk heavy in the sky. Still a little bit of time, she reminded herself, wary. But I have to hurry.
“Can you walk?”
They were past the guards now, standing just within the sloping walls. It took her a long moment before she met the emerald eyes looking down at her, and with that she realized he was actually talking to her this time.
“A-Ah,” she fumbled with her words for a moment. “Yes, I think so--ah!”
Her sentence looped off into a startled cry as the arm under her legs suddenly gave way, the other pulling up hard against her shoulders, and she found herself practically thrown to her feet, stumbling a few steps further into the room before finally gaining her balance.
For a fierce moment, twirling back around, she aimed to give him a piece of her mind -- why, he’d just practically dropped her -- but realized, a second later, that there was something else she probably needed to say first. Despite his awful way of going about it the other day, the fact remained that he had been right and she had been wrong. She’d gone outside (he’d said to not), the ravens had attacked (he’d said they would), and despite how frightening it was to consider such an outcome, they would have probably torn her apart if he hadn’t stepped in (which he did, despite her refusal to listen.)
What should she say? I’m sorry? Thank you?
Instead, Ahiru found herself focused on the tear in his sleeve, the fabric stained dark red.
“You’re bleeding,” she said softly, reaching out. “Let me --”
But Fakir pulled away from her touch and fixed her with a glare.
“I’ll only say this once more. Stay inside.” he said, voice so cold that she took a hasty step backwards. He turned from her, began walking away. “Next time, I won’t bother.”
And he was gone, having disappeared into the darkening landscape before she could even think to call after him.
She took a deep breath instead, but barely had a chance to gather up all her jumbled thoughts before her name echoed down a nearby stairwell. A familiar form appeared around the curve of the stone, and she felt better already.
“Mytho,” she called, hurrying over to meet him. He looked worried, his steps towards her hasty, his eyes brimming with obvious concern.
“I saw Fakir carry you in from a window. What’s the matter? Are you hurt?”
He was worried -- about her! A thread of heat fluttered across her cheeks, and she managed a sheepish smile. “Oh, it’s nothing, really, just a little scratch on my back, I’m fine --”
“Why were you out there?” A thought flickered across his face, and his lips twisted into something of amusement. “Did you sneak into town?”
She nodded, and he laughed. “I‘ve done that a few times. Fun, isn’t it?”
There really was no reason to tell him about the ravens, she rationalized. “Y-Yes, lots of fun!”
“Why don’t you tell me about it?” he asked, and took one of her hands in his own, lifting it up into the air between them. “I’m sure the cooks wouldn’t mind providing with a simple dinner. Are you hungry?”
Dinner? Tonight? Just the two of them?
A nervous, much too loud giggle erupted from her mouth at the welcoming thought, and she quickly smothered it with her free hand. “I’m so sorry,” she muttered through her spread fingers, too mortified to look him in the eye, gaze frantically moving from their clasped hands to the smooth floor to the stone steps to the dark window. “I’d love to --”
Dark?
The realization hit hard, so hard that she wrenched her hand out of his at once and spun in a violent circle as she searched for the fastest escape route possible. The stairwell behind him seemed the safest bet. “I-I can’t, Mytho, I’m so sorry, I really am,“ she stammered, gathering her skirt up over her shoes in two trembling clumps, “but I, I have this awful allergy and it’s about to start acting up, and I really wish I could stay, but I can’t...”
Bewilderment flashed across his face, and she felt so awful in that moment that she wanted to cry. This was the second time in two days she’d run from him like a crazy person. He had to be thinking the most horrible things about her, that she was confusing, irrational, rude...
That’s okay, she insisted to herself, because if he saw what was to come next, he’d think something much worse.
And then she was running once more, doing her best to ignore the spasms of pain in her back as she hurtled up the stone steps, down the shadowed hallways. Each window she hurried past allowed her a desperate glance at the sky. All she had to do was make it to her room…
But there was the moon, curved and blinding in the sky, and she realized in horror that there was not enough time. Hadn’t she been reminding herself all day to keep an eye on the sun? Hadn’t the whole point been to make it back to her perfectly safe room with plenty of time to spare? Stupid, stupid, stupid...!
Miss Edel and Uzura’s room!
The thought struck her like the brightest of beacons, and she turned a sudden corner, reenergized. It was near here, wasn’t it? The quarters of a few noble families, then a handful of storage rooms, then ---
Yes!
The familiar red door loomed ahead of her like a long-lost friend, and skidding to a stop, she clenched her fist and managed one solid knock before ---
The handle turned slowly, deliberately. The door creaked open a few inches, revealing one of Uzura’s blue eyes. “Who’s there-zura?”
The little girl’s wary gaze searched all around the quiet hallway, from the sloped ceiling to the stone walls to the smooth floor -- where a dress rested in a heap, empty.
“Ohhhh,” Uzura murmured, and hurried out to see. Little hands gripped at the soft fabric, pushing fold after fold aside. The open neck hole remained buried beneath the swell of the skirt and she pulled it closer, pressing the fabric around it flat to the stone. Her eyes widening when she saw what lay beneath.
A small, sighing duck sat amidst the massive dress, feathers ruffled.
Uzura smiled. With a laugh, she grabbed both bird and dress up in her little arms and hurried back inside to show her mother.
“Ahiru’s here-zura!”
- - -
A/N: Well, that's it for today~! This is the first I'm not updating in
princesstutu, so I'm a little nervous about people sticking around. If you're out there and reading, it would be lovely to hear from you. <33 Comments are appreciated, as always! New chapter next week! :D
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