The Elf Girl

by Grabo, Markelle

  “It’s called fantasy, Ramsey,” she explained. “The real fantasy is what others have made up about our kind. We believe in God just as any human would. Sure, other magical beings believe in different things, but we believe in Him.”

  “What do the others believe in?”

  “The majority of elves, gnomes, dwarves, etc., believe in God. Some don’t. Just like with humans. We believe in Jesus, but we do not worship Him as the humans do. For you see, He was not our savior. He was the savior of the humans.”

  “That makes sense,” I told her.

  Aaliyah nodded and continued, “The fae creatures believe in Fae. They were named after her. She is their goddess, their supposed creator. They believe God exists as well, just that He didn’t create them. Fae did.”

  “So God created humans, elves, gnomes, etc., and Fae created the fae?” I asked, just making sure I understood what she was explaining to me.

  “Yes. That is what we believe.”

  “Any other religious beliefs I should know about for future references?” I asked.

  “Well,” Aaliyah replied, pausing a moment to think, “I know the mermaids believe God had a wife. When God created the earth, He created her as a companion. Her name was Mer. Legend says that when God created the oceans and seas, Mer fell and was lost in the depths of the water. To save her, God made her legs into the tail of a fish so she could swim up into the heavens to be with Him. However, Mer decided she loved the sea and wanted to stay there. When God changed her legs to a tail, Mer felt she was completely changed. She belonged in the sea. However, she didn’t want to be lonely and asked God to help her make more of her kind. Legend says He did, and together they created a whole sea full of new, wondrous creatures. That is supposedly where Mermaids and Mermen come from.”

  “Do mermaids have their own Realm, separate from elves and fairies?” I inquired.

  Aaliyah nodded, moving the basket of food from one arm to the other. “Their Realm is Atlantis, also referred to by humans, as ‘The Lost City of Atlantis.’ The reason their Realm was created was to keep the sirens under control; otherwise, they may have stayed in the Human Realm. At first, Atlantis was an island in the Human Realm. The mermaids who lived there had the power to be either a mermaid or human. It was their choice. When the mermaids moved Atlantis to their own Realm, they returned to their true forms. Humans now believe Atlantis sank to the bottom of the ocean after some failed attempt to take over the Greek city of Athens. We mystical beings, of course, know this is not true. However, humans sometimes have ways of covering up what they can’t explain with a story, lie, or legend. It’s difficult for a being without magic to accept that magic truly happens.”

  “I see,” I said. “Don’t sirens lure sailors to their deaths with their looks?”

  “Precisely,” she confirmed. “Sirens also have the most beautiful voices of all mystical beings, even more beautiful than elves and fairies, and that says quite a lot. They are all women, and undeniably stunning. A siren can be born from two mermaid parents, or from a merman and a siren. Before the Mermaid Realm, sirens swam through the seas looking for anyone weak enough to prey on. When things started getting out of hand, the Mermaid Realm was created to protect the mermaids and to avoid problems with humans.”

  “Wow, so many stories…so many beliefs. And I thought the Human Realm was complicated….”

  “Ramsey, all that matters is what you believe,” Aaliyah told me.

  “I believe in God.”

  “Then that should be enough,” she said, patting my arm affectionately. “You can sift through the rest of the information another time. Right now, focus on what you believe, and use those beliefs to give you the strength to find Zora and discover your secret.”

  I nodded, taking her advice to heart, and followed her into the orchard.

  ***

  “You made it home to the Elf Realm just in time, Ramsey. Everything here is in season,” Aaliyah commented.

  “It looks wonderful,” I said.

  “Come, I’ll show you where we will have lunch,” Aaliyah said, taking my hand and leading me through the fruit trees.

  I looked up in awe at the vibrant colors of the fruit. I noticed different kinds of apple and pear trees, and even Clementine trees nestled among the normal-sized orange trees. It was the most fruit I had ever seen in my life. It was all beautiful, like precious jewels, only edible. I giggled to myself. I would never have compared food and jewels to each other before this day. In the Elf Realm, everything was different. I was thinking of new thoughts and enjoying new experiences.

  Soon we came to a small clearing where Aaliyah draped a large blanket over the grass. She placed a large bouquet of flowers in the middle of the blanket.

  “Addison’s,” she commented, gesturing to the flowers. “She always says you can’t enjoy food without flowers as the centerpiece. They make the experience all the more enjoyable.”

  “Interesting thought,” I remarked.

  “That’s Addison for you,” Aaliyah replied with a smile.

  I breathed in deeply and admired our surroundings.

  “It’s like a fairyland here,” I said, and then gasped. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that kind of fairy….”

  “Don’t worry about it, Ramsey. What you said is true. The Elf Realm is beautiful, but if you went to the Golden Fairy Realm, I don’t think you would want to leave. I hear it’s too beautiful for words.”

  “What is the Golden Fairy Realm?” I asked.

  “Four kinds of fairies make up the foundation of the fae. Dryads, nymphs, and pixies are fae as well, along with other fairies that fit in here and there, but these four fairies are the most powerful and plentiful,” she said as we sat down. “All four have their own Realm. The other fairies fit in wherever they choose, or remain in the Human Realm. The Golden fairies are the royal ones. Queen Titania lives in the Golden Fairy Realm. She is known as the High Queen because she is queen of the Golden Fairy Realm as well as the ruler of the entire fae population. Some even believe she rules over all the Magical Realms.”

  “Do elves believe this, too?” I asked.

  Aaliyah winced. “No, we believe that because we were the first to create a Realm, we do not need to bow to Queen Titania,” she explained. “We were the ones to come up with the idea of separate Realms in the first place. However, she is the most powerful being of the Realms. An elf would be foolish to cross her….I don’t believe any elf would, no matter how he or she felt about Titania. She is dangerous, stunning, and wondrous…many words can describe her and not all of them very good. So even though our Realm does not acknowledge her as supreme ruler, we do respect her.”

  I nodded. “Why are the Golden fairies considered royal?”

  Aaliyah flattened a part of the blanket that was ruffled and flicked away a few pieces of grass. “They are the most beautiful of the fae, the most magical, and the most powerful. Golden fairies have honey golden hair; soft, tan skin; and lovely golden wings and can have many abilities instead of just one like the elves. They also have the ability to perform spells, create charms, and mix potions. Golden fairies have their powers all of their lives, far reaching abilities stronger than most can imagine. The possibilities are endless. However, these powers vary for each Golden fairy. They are a wondrous sight to behold and equally just as threatening. Their powers, unlike the elves and other fae, are limitless. I do not know one creature who has ever challenged a Golden fairy. Any who would do so would most likely pay for it with their lives.”

  “Sounds like they can do almost anything,” I remarked, feeling a little intimidated just hearing of the Golden fairies.

  Surprisingly, Aaliyah nodded. “Almost,” she said rather quietly.

  “What about the others?” I wondered.

  “Well, the next step below Golden fairies is the Element fairies.”

  “Yeah, Cass told me a little about them my first night here.”

  “Oh, did he really?” she asked, raising a pale eyebrow.
>
  “Yeah, how they each have their own element,” I remarked.

  “Yes. They have water, earth, air, or fire, and they are truly exotic beings. Their looks correspond with their element. For example, a fire fairy usually has red or dark hair. Element fairies use their specific element as their power, and they have it all their lives like the Golden fairies do. Actually, fairies always have their powers. It’s only elves who must wait until sixteen,” she explained.

  Aaliyah paused to open the picnic basket and examine its contents, as if contemplating what to remove first. I fidgeted as she did so, eager to learn more, to know more about the wonders of magic, of this place.

  “I want to know more,” I blurted. I knew I probably looked like a kid in a candy store, eyes sparkling with excitement and urgency in my tone. Every piece of information Aaliyah gave me was like another door opened. The more I learned about magic, the greater attraction I felt toward it, realizing it truly was a part of me.

  Aaliyah smiled and shut the picnic basket. “Then the food can wait,” she decided. “Let’s see…after the Element fairies come the Woodland fairies. They are the common folk of fairies. They look a lot like we do, except they have translucent silver wings on their backs. They don’t have abilities like we do, but they have different magic that is born within them. This magic includes abilities like Golden fairies: to use spells, potions, charms, and other oddities that deal with magic. However, they are not nearly as powerful as Golden fairies are. Woodland fairies love the forests and do not meddle in any affairs unless they involve dancing, drinking, and merrymaking.”

  “It sounds like they love to party.”

  Aaliyah stifled a giggle. “Yes, they do,” she agreed.

  “Go on,” I urged.

  “Just below the Woodland fairies are the Flower fairies, or as they are also called, Butterfly fairies. They are pretty and dainty little creatures that wear clothes made of flowers and are often confused with pixies. Flower fairies, however, are much smaller than pixies. Their wings are like a butterfly’s, colorful and delicate. Flower fairies embody a type of flower. Depending on the flower, the fairy will receive a certain type of magic, a power. They like the presence of animals and keep to themselves. I have never had a chance to learn much more about them for that reason.”

  “I think I like the Flower fairies best. They seem less likely to start a war because they keep to themselves,” I remarked.

  “Yes, they are a nice folk. The Woodland fairies are as well, for the most part. The only disturbing thing about them is that they are unaffected by sadness or despair,” Aaliyah said, as she opened the basket.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Most of the fae don’t feel sadness. They do not look upon death the same way we do. They celebrate life and do not understand feelings of pity or remorse. They have no guilt, and only know happiness and fun. This is how every Woodland fairy that has lived in their Realm feels.”

  “Wait, would they feel that way if they lived in our Realm?”

  “No, once they have left their Magical Realm, they change. You see, their Realm is like a cloak. It covers up feelings of sorrow. However, once they have crossed into the Elf Realm, the cloak is gone and those covered feelings are revealed. In our Realm, they can feel sadness. That is why elves always went to the Fairy Realms before the war and not the other way around. Who would want to feel sad while visiting a Realm? The fairies surely would not. The reason our Realm is uncovered is because elves believe all feelings are a part of life.”

  “That all makes sense, but the fae sound so cruel. So different from what I used to believe….”

  “They are not really cruel, Ramsey. They just do not see things the same way we do. Their magic separates them from other beings, like elves and humans.”

  “I guess it could be a good thing, not feeling sadness, but I couldn’t imagine not caring if you, Stellan, or Addison were to die. That’s just terrible,” I said.

  “Yes, it is, but the fairies cannot experience this in their Realms, especially the Woodland fairies.”

  “How do the other fae feel?”

  “They do not feel much sadness, but they can feel some. For instance, when King Oberon, Queen Titania’s husband, died, every Golden fairy cried for days on end.”

  “What about the Flower fairies and Element fairies?”

  “The Flower fairies are too filled with innocence to feel such a way. They are like children. As for the Element fairies, I believe they once felt sad feelings, but have hardened since the war began,” she explained.

  “How can the Element fairies get away with war? Why doesn’t Queen Titania stop them? Is she really that concerned for her own fairies?”

  “Actually, she is. The Element fairies are very powerful. They are only one step down in power from Golden fairies. Titania doesn’t want to fight with them, so she stays out of it. She believes it’s better to let the Element fairies deal with their problems than get every Realm involved. The fae have always tried to get along with each other. Titania doesn’t want a conflict. If she were to get involved, there would be differences in opinion among the fae, leading to great turmoil. She truly just keeps the best interests of her folk in mind. Her subjects mean everything to her.”

  “I think I can understand that,” I decided aloud. I sighed. “I’m sorry to be bothering you with all of these questions, Aaliyah.”

  “It’s quite all right, Ramsey. I’m happy to tell you about the other Realms. It’s high time you knew about them anyway. This is just as much a part of your culture and history as mine.”

  While Aaliyah went back to digging through the picnic basket, I took a moment to absorb everything she told me. It was amazing how much I still needed to learn. Playing with the loose threads on the blanket, I realized it would probably take more than Aaliyah’s wisdom for me to become accustomed to the reality of magic. That will come with time, I decided. Right now, the most important thing for me to do is to find my sister.

  “Thank you so much for explaining these things to me,” I said to her gratefully.

  “Well, that was just a brief history. As you grow older, you will learn more. I have just told you the basics, which is good enough for now.”

  “Should we eat then?” I suggested.

  “Oh, yes!” Aaliyah agreed, while removing the various foods she had packed from the basket.

  I looked at the food warily. Aaliyah brought several kinds of meats, some of which I didn’t recognize. My stomach churned.

  “Stellan told me how uneasy you were about the meat here. I wanted to bring you some different kinds to try. I promise you don’t have to eat anything you find unappetizing, but I thought it might help you become accustomed to our eating habits.”

  “What kinds are there?” I asked, as my voice slightly rose higher in pitch.

  “I brought chicken, pheasant, venison, and lamb.”

  “No rabbit?”

  “No,” she assured me, shaking her head.

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m sorry. I know you eat it here, but I could never imagine eating a bunny.”

  “It’s okay, you don’t have to apologize. We don’t eat rabbit very often. Elves that hunt usually eat a wider variety of game. But I do not, and neither does Stellan or Addison.”

  “Then I will try all four. They sound normal enough. I have already had two of the four anyway.”

  The meat tasted great – it didn’t make me queasy or anything. I used the bread and meat together as a sandwich and everything tasted fine. For dessert, Aaliyah had baked a cake filled with the taste of honey, and we each had a piece. I learned later that it was a fairy recipe, one that Aaliyah was given by Woodland fairies before the war began.

  “What was Zora like?” I asked, as we finished our meal. “I mean, elves have told me she was caring and friendly, but what else?”

  “Would you like to see?” she asked me.

  “What do you mean?” I was confused. How could I see Zora if the
Element fairies had her?

  “I see Addison hasn’t told you about my ability. I can show others my past memories. I could show you one of Zora.”

  “Really, you would do that?”

  “Of course I would,” she said. “Here, give me your hands.”

  I nodded and slowly put both of my hands into hers.

  “Now close your eyes and repeat Zora’s name over and over in your mind.”

  “All right,” I said.

  I focused my thoughts on Zora and waited.

  Suddenly a million colors flashed in front of my closed eyes. They swirled and danced before me. Then they started forming into images.

  I saw a pale-haired elfen kneeling beside a trough of flowers with her back to me. I recognized the house as Aaliyah’s and, at first, I thought the elfen was Addison. Then she turned around.

  She was definitely not Addison.

  She had the same hair, but her eyes were a glowing emerald, like mine…but they weren’t my eyes. They were Zora’s.

  “Zora,” I whispered in awe. I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing my sister for the first time.

  “Yes,” Aaliyah confirmed for me.

  She was glowing, with a dazzling white smile. She looked like an angel, someone warm and inviting.

  “Aaliyah, Addison plants such lovely flowers. I wish I had her skill,” Zora said. Her silky voice was like a bird singing. “It seems whenever I plant my own something always goes askew.”

  “She does keep up a great flower garden,” Aaliyah replied, laying a hand atop my sister’s shoulder.

  She sighed happily. “We are so lucky to have such a great gardener.” Zora laughed and then got up, brushing the dirt off her clothing.

  “Yes, and soon you will have to start paying me for the great job I do!” Addison said as she joined the two.

  “I’d rather not,” Zora disagreed, and gave Addison a playful shove.

  “Come on, you two, it’s time for school. If you don’t leave now you will surely be late.”

  “You’re right,” Zora realized, nodding swiftly. “Come on, Addison, let’s get a move on!”