Changeling

I couldn’t speak. I wanted to say “yes, sir” or even just a simple “aye”, but my voice wouldn’t cooperate. In that moment of hesitation, I frowned in doubt. However, my attention was quickly diverted when the female fairy stood up from the floor. Her eyes were as clear and mesmerizing as the blue crystals at the bottom of an endless river—sharp and unyielding. She had plump lips curved into a frown and her long blonde hair streamed down her back, hiding her translucent diptera wings. As she leaned closer to me, her scowl intensified. Her scent was intoxicating, causing conflicting reactions within me. I held my breath, unsure of how to respond.

“You are an obnoxious fool. Why is it your first reaction is to attack the innocent bystander, an innocent bystander who I might add, saved your life!”

I blinked and slowly let the air leave my lungs. She was right. I had acted without thinking. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” The statement oozed out of me in a cracked voice, one dry and scabbed over.

She frowned in concern and stood up. “Let me get you some fresh water. I’ll be right back.” We both watched her go.

The orc perched on the floor beside the bed, combing his thick fingers through the dreadlocks hanging from his chin. His eyes held a certain enigma as they darted in my direction. “Never thought to run into her kind all the way out here, did ye?”

I shook my head. “How long was I out?” Even though half my voice faded and cracked I knew he heard every word, the Fae had exceptional hearing.

“A week, give or take. The poison was strong and fast. She came to the battlefield to help the injured. I was surprised she didn’t take us back into the castle grounds, but instead led us here in the forest. I reckon she’s a witch, of sorts.”

“I cannot stand the stagnant smell of so many close together, and it’s too loud.” As she returned, the blonde spoke softly. I sat up as she approached my other side, her fingers lightly grazing my neck. A shiver ran down my spine when she pushed against me. It had been years since I saw a woman as gorgeous as her. Her hair fell over me as she brought the clay to my lips.

I apparently had forgotten how to drink while asleep, as I choked on the water. She tsked me and brought a cloth to the blankets. “My name is Elida,”

“Niall,” I nodded in turn.

“Horn.” My comrade piped up, he seemed to be enjoying me making a fool of myself. I shot a dark look before returning my attention to the girl.

“How much longer before I can leave?”

Horn shook his head, but it was the girl who answered. “Why are you in such a hurry? Surely your way of lifestyle can manage some quiet time?”

I sat up and leaned toward her, using an unspoken spell to hold her gaze captive with my own. “I am not sure if you are as sweet and innocent as I think you to be, however, I should tell you that you smell absolutely amazing to me. And I do mean that as dinner, so unless you’d like to see how much restraint I have, I think it’d be best to move on.”

She didn’t look at me with anger or fear, but rather a perplexed confusion that caught me off guard. She pursed her lips and shook her head in disbelief. The spell I had cast was not to control her, but simply to capture her complete attention while I spoke. It was subtle magic, not strong enough to raise any red flags or alarms. “I admit I didn’t think you to be that type of Fae. I honestly have no idea what race you are, however, trust me when I say I can protect myself from whatever you are. And I smell like that to most, by the way. It’s the magic in my blood. You don’t scare me.” She patted my cheek before getting up and walking out. “And unfortunately, I have had many interactions with a vampire,” her voice trailed after her.

I watched her go as I sat back, defeated. My gaze flicked to Horn. He watched me with a dark expression. “How bad is it?” He asked.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Manageable, for now. If I keep my belly full I should be fine.”

“I’ll go and catch a rabbit, lay down and rest more.”

“Make it a fox, I need something with more of a fight.” He nodded.

The days passed slowly and serenely, a welcome change from my previous job guarding a paranoid royal in a remote countryside. But this peace was different—it wasn’t mind-numbing. As I regained my strength, I ventured out to explore the forest surrounding Elida’s cabin. The sparse trees were spaced evenly apart, allowing for plenty of sunlight to filter through. A small garden flourished beside the cabin, and friendly animals roamed freely. In the distance, I spotted a small village just beyond the tree line. My curiosity piqued, I decided to investigate further but noticed unfamiliar figures dressed in black nearby. Not wanting to risk confrontation, I quickly turned back towards Elida’s cabin.

Horn stood tall, his muscular arms glistening with sweat as he chopped wood for the fire. Elida tended to a mother and her two young children nearby with a gentle expression. They all had pointed ears and delicate features, but not all of them had wings. I sat against the worn wooden fence, feeling the rough texture against my skin. The steady thwack of Horn’s axe broke the peaceful silence as the firewood split in half.

“Navid!” Elida gasped, the tone in her voice was higher. Furrowing my brow, I reluctantly opened my eyes. Horn had come to a sudden halt and was now staring intently in her direction, evaluating whether there was a potential threat. I propped myself up and cautiously peeked over the tall tomato plants that lined the fence.

A lean male in black armor was striding through the woods. One of the unfamiliar men I’d seen in the village. His dark hair was tied up in a bun, exposing his pointed elf ears. His hand poised on the hilt of his sword. Something about it seemed wrong. The sword wasn’t bone, that was for sure. His gaze remained locked on Horn before he noticed me. When Elida neared him he reached out and touched her arm, almost unconsciously, as if they were familiar and he’d been longing for her touch for some time. I kept my gaze locked on him until he finally broke contact.

“Who are they?” His voice vexed me.

“Mercenaries from the battle near Stonehedge.” She stood on her tip toes and pressed her lips to his cheek. His eyes narrowed and he grabbed her arm in a manner of possession.

Before I knew I had moved — I was up and marching in their direction. Horn yanked me back by my collar. “Look, their conversation has gone quiet.” Horn grumbled.

As their conversation grew more intense, I couldn’t help but feel like an outsider. They were communicating telepathically now, their body language tense and almost hostile. But what caught my attention were the translucent silver tattoos adorning their skin, intertwined and matching perfectly. I felt a twinge of jealousy and betrayal as I realized that they shared a bond deeper than I could ever imagine. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but wonder why she had always hidden it from me. Her hair had always been braided down that side of her neck, as if she resented the mark.

The male, Navid, stood up straighter and looked over in our direction. He gave a curt nod before turning and going back the way he had come.

“Navid!” Elida called after him. He didn’t answer and disappeared back into the trees. She frowned before chewing on her plump lip. I hesitantly approached her as Horn went back to chopping wood.

“Is everything okay?”

She jumped and looked up at me. “Oh, yes. Don’t mind him, he’s just a sour puss. I need to pick some carrots for dinner, please excuse me.” She reentered the building, and my eyes traced along her back until they landed on the basket of carrots she was carrying. The idea of her being with someone else began to bother me. It hadn’t even occurred to me before. I couldn’t tell if it was simply because I wanted to devour her, or if there could be something more meaningful between us.

Either way, it shouldn’t have mattered to me. And there was nothing to be done about it now. She was matched.

I didn’t know why I hesitated to leave. Horn didn’t seem to mind either, however as the days became weeks, he soon ventured out with a vow to return. He wanted to see if there were any jobs posted in the area, the trip would take a week to get to Stonehedge and back. I thought it was weird, but only ever in the dead of night when I couldn’t sleep. If she needed wood cut, I would cut it. If she needed a fire built, I would build it. If she needed game, I would hunt it. I scolded myself, why was I acting like a dog? Did she have me under a spell?

My mind couldn’t find peace as I lay awake, until an unusual sound caught my attention. The noise was unfamiliar and different from the usual nighttime sounds. I turned to my side and focused on listening. The creak of a door opening and muffled voices drifted in from the kitchen. Was there a man’s voice among them? My senses were heightened as a strange presence filled the house. A moment later an eerie silence fell over the cabin.

I waited.

Nothing.

I realized that I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep, so I left the bed and walked out of the room. The house was quiet and dimly lit. As I made my way down the hallway, I caught a new scent, one that belonged to a man. Curiosity getting the better of me, I tiptoed towards her bedroom door and pressed my ear against it. Strangely, there was no sound coming from inside—not even her breathing. Could she have used some kind of silencer? It was the only logical explanation for the eerie silence.

I felt a pang in my chest and furrowed my brow before leaning back, trying to distance myself. She didn’t seem like the type of woman to do that. I took a step away and directed my gaze towards the door, searching for an explanation. As anger bubbled inside me, I stormed back into my room, feeling frustrated and out of place. I had no right to feel this way, but the mere thought of her with someone else boiled my blood.

I didn’t understand how I had been able to fall asleep, but somehow it happened. The sound of someone crying pulled me out of my slumber. It was still dark outside, but there was a faint light on the horizon, signaling the start of a new day. Suddenly, I was wide awake and sitting up in bed. She was the one crying.

Once again, I found myself standing at her bedroom door and knocked. The tears ceased. Yet, I still waited.

Her voice echoed back, “I’m fine Niall, go back to bed.”

“Bullshit,” I barked before going against my better judgment and opening the door. But I pushed aside that warning and opened the door anyway. My nose anticipated the scent of sex, but it wasn’t there. Instead, the room was dark and quiet. I saw her sitting on the edge of her bed, wearing a simple cotton nightgown. She looked up at me with tired, puffy eyes as her hair fell back behind her head. “What did he do?”

She jerked her chin and sucked in a breath. “Nothing that concerns you.”

Hesitantly I let go of the doorknob and walked in. Her scent was overpowering here. “Ok, but you’re not fine. What can I do?” I couldn’t help but wonder, for a brief moment, just who had I become to ask such a question.

She sniffed, looking at me with unreadable eyes. “...Can... Can I hug you? Just for a moment?” My feet carried me to her, and I sat down; wrapping my arms around her slender frame. She shuddered and leaned into me.

We sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. Outside, the sky began to lighten and the room filled with soft light. I unconsciously rubbed her arm, lost in my own thoughts, until she finally spoke. Throughout our embrace, she had not shed a single tear, and now her voice was steady and strong.

“That was Navid. He told me he’s going to the city. He’s going... with another girl. Said he can’t stand me being around another guy, so he’s going to give me a taste of my medicine. I told him there was nothing between us, that you were only helping me, earning your stay. But he, well, I don’t think he

cared. It wasn’t a matter of being believed or not.”

A shadow fell over my eyes as I glared at the door.

I couldn’t bear to witness her in this state, but he was her equal. My hands were tied; I couldn’t interfere without facing the wrath of the gods. And then it hit me—maybe I had been lingering for too long. I had overstayed my welcome.

“I guess he’s been keeping tabs, I don’t understand why he felt the need to spy on me.” She sniffed.

“Elida.” I spoke, my resolve left a bitter taste on my tongue. “I don’t want to cause further trouble for you. I appreciate you letting me stay, but I think when Horn returns, I should go. I’m sorry.”

She shuddered again before nodding softly. “I am sorry too. For a lot of different things. I am sorry for wanting you to stay, and for forcing you to go.” I looked down at her and curled a finger around her chin. She lifted her eyes to my own and I gently placed my lips on hers.

She sucked in her breath. “Don’t apologize for that. Just apologize for stealing my heart.” I gently rubbed my thumb in a circular motion on her icy cheek, then closed my eyes and quietly exited her bedroom. The kiss had been pleasant, and my lips were slightly warmer than before. However, I couldn’t deny that something was missing. Maybe I had misled myself into thinking she had captured my heart.

Horn stood at the front of the house, his arms crossed and a scowl etched onto his face. He had just arrived and was not happy about having to turn around and go back, but he did have some intriguing information to share. As I stepped into the doorway with my bag and leather-bound arm securely in place, I felt less exposed. Elida stayed behind in the living room, a dimly-lit space furnished with well-worn pieces accumulated over time.

“Goodbye Elida.”

I could have said more.

However, I didn’t feel the urge to explain myself. She nodded, fiddling with the sleeve of her sweater. It was evident that being in my presence made her uneasy, but I also knew it stirred up feelings inside her. At least for the past two days. But she wouldn’t have to experience that discomfort anymore; I would leave her life forever.