Faerie Dust

The tiny faerie scoffed, flitting quickly through the air as the young elf swatted at her with his giant hand.

"Come on, Aethelwyne," He said with a cheeky smirk. "You know you can't flutter about all day without getting tired."

He took another swipe, fingertips gracing the faerie's wings that time. Aethelwyne stumbled a bit, but quickly managed to regain her flight.

"Watch me Lairethiien," She snapped.

The fae couldn't understand why he was such a bother. Lairethiien's Fate, or destiny, was to become the next ruler of The Kingdom. Yet he was acting like his sole purpose was to annoy Aethelwyne day in and day out.

Lairethiien just shook his head with a wry smile, following her every move. "Won't you ever lighten up?"

That caused Aethelwyne's cheeks burst into a bright pink hue, taking serious offence to the pun. "Not with the likes of you around, elf."

This earned a chuckle as the elf continued to grin down at the small faerie. "Your heart is colder than the Snow Queen's, Ae-"

"I'm touched."

"Someday some creature will melt it, I'm sure. Sooner or later. Hopefully sooner than later though," Lairethiien added as an afterthought.

Aethelwyne just shook her head begrudgingly, pulling her knees up to her chest as she sat on a rock in the little dell she called home. "You wish, Prince Lairethiien."

Lairethiien turned to leave, but another thought stopped him.

"But wishes do come true in this world, little fae."

Aethelwyne could feel her body starting to glow brighter and brighter, hotter and hotter as the handsome elf turned and walked away. She absolutely loathed how he must always get the last word in.

Suddenly, another elf crashed through the golden forest wearing the robes of a messenger and a strained expression on his face.

"Prince Lairethiien! Aethelwyne! His Royal Highness, The King has requested both your presences at once!"

Finally, it was Lairethiien's turn to frown.

"I'm not going."

"But, Your Majesty-"

"I said I'm not going."

"I'll go in his place, along for my own self," Aethelwyne offered, earning a relieved look from the young elf.

"But-"

"Go. Send word that I will be there," Aethelwyne finalized.

All the messenger could do was just nod despairingly, mumbling about how the prince would cost him his job some day.

"Thank you," Lairethiien sighed once the messenger was gone.

Aethelwyne frowned. "You'll have to own up to your Fate one day. Why not start now?" And left without another word.



The high wooden arches littered with gold crowning made even the tallest of elves feel minuscule in the throne room.

Aethelwyne gulped. It wasn't her first time inside the royal chamber, yet the architecture still took her breath away every time. If she were that stupid elf who supposedly allied with her, she'd have been inside the throne room every chance she got.

Alas, faeries were not normally permitted inside unless there was some form of business involved.

"Your Highness." Aethelwyne bowed before the king, repeating the same courtesy for the queen.

"Where is my son?" The king frowned.

"He- something has come up that requires his immediate attention."

"Yes, I'm sure," the king grumbled. "But there's no time for that now. Aethelwyne, I have a very important task for you."

"For me?" The tiny faerie let out a squeak of surprise, taken aback.

The King chuckled. "Yes, for you. You may have the body of but a small fae, but you have the heart of a mighty elven warrior."

Aethelwyne blushed, reckoning to herself that it could be true.

"The boy is here," The Queen spoke up softly, nearly knocking the wind out of the faerie's lungs.

Aethelwyne gaped. "The Boy? The one Fated to save us?"

"Born not days ago." The Queen nodded, motioning her hand to guide Aethelwyne over to a beautiful porcelain fountain set aside from the throne.

The faerie followed, intrigued and overwhelmed when she finally saw the face of a newborn baby swirling amidst the crystalline waters that flowed.

"What is my part to play, Your Highness?"

"You will travel to the Other World and watch over him as he grows."

"What?! No! That's- that's impossible! Why can't the prince go instead?" Aethelwyne started to back away from the fountain, no longer interested in the boy or his Fate.

This was a job much to large for the likes of her.

"You know how well he listens to his parents, Aethelwyne." The King frowned. "Please. We are entrusting you with this boy. Our future. The Barrier must stand."

That's the problem, the little faerie thought to herself. "What if I mess up?"

The Queen smiled lovingly. "You won't, child."

Aethelwyne didn't even get the chance to bid farewell to Lairethiien, or even to tell him about the impossible journey she'd been thrust into.



Twilight had just started to die down in Bradford when a light as bright as the setting sun bloomed in the Malik household.

The faerie Aethelwyne stood, wings shed to dust, looking down into the crib of the newborn.

Her fading golden light caressed his tanned skin, stirring the boy from his fitful sleep.

But instead of crying, the newborn gazed up at her silently, mesmerized with the fae.

She could feel her heart clench as she stared into his dark eyes, hearing the soft whispering of his parents just outside the door.

"I should check on him."

"Honey, the baby is fine. He's sleeping, I already checked. Zayn needs his rest, and you need your rest too."

"Zayn," The faerie whispered as a small smile crept its way onto her lips. "I'll protect you."

What looked like his own shadow of a smile graced his features as he les out a soft sound. Aethelwyne couldn't help it, she traced her finger across his cheek, over to his tiny hand where his fingers lock tightly around her one.

Her eyes widened in shock, but the baby wouldn't let go. Zayn just yawned softly, eyes closing back to sleep.

She didn't even realize that Lairethiien's words were coming true at that very moment. Her heart was too busy melting.