Dark Secrets by Jessica Burnett Read Free Book Online Page B

distance.
    As we stood before the mound he handed me a tincture.
    “I’m afraid you must shrink down to their size, malady.” He pronounced in his sing-song voice.
    “Shrink down to their size, you say? Who exactly am I visiting with?” I inquired with eyes crinkled. For some reason, the way I speak was changed. It was almost… proper.
    “The fairy folk, malady. The Queen requests your presence.”
    “You’re kidding” I exclaimed, mouth agape.
    He simply shook his head no and nodded toward my tincture before he gulped his down. The man I saw before became very tiny with wings. It was by far the most extraordinary thing I had seen yet.
    I sipped at my tincture a bit, revolted by the taste. The little man pushed up on the bottom; forcing me to swallow it whole. I began to feel a tingling down my spine and started coughing and sneezing. I closed my eyes for one second and when I reopened them I found myself to be cell phone sized. However, I had no wings. He was holding me by my arms and gently sat me down.
    He waved me through a door in the side of the mound which led to a dining hall filled with tiny fae people. The little man grabbed hold of my arm and led me toward the end of the table. I looked around the room in amazement. There were platters of food on the tables and people dressed with great long robes of flowing linen. There were stone plates, wooden forks and knives, and tiny candles aglow everywhere. The little fairy folk were flying about with their tiny wings as thin as tissue. The wings held their tiny stick figures well. Each one had perfect tiny lips, pointy noses, and large, blue almond shaped eyes. Most had white blonde hair, except one… When we reached the end of the table we were confronted by two soldiers holding tiny swords.
    “At ease! Let them pass, dear ones.” spoke a heavenly voice from behind them.
    The soldiers separated and between them sat a goddess-like woman with exquisite facial features and long crimson hair, the color of their sun, which flowed all the way to the floor. She was dressed in what looked like woven flowers from the meadow we just left.
    “Would you please sit with me dear Elven Princess? I am Queen Falora. I have waited many years to meet you.”
    I sat carefully beside her, in awe of her beauty. I had no words to speak with. I realized at this moment that I was now fully functional. If I wished to run, I could have. I took a quick look around searching for the nearest exit in case I needed to make a run for it. I soon realized that there was nowhere to go.
    “My child… I asked you here to bestow a gift upon you. If you are worthy you will receive the great sword of Belzamarth, our first king that died millennia ago. It is infused with the magic of every fae king and queen that hath ever lived. Do you believe yourself to be worthy of such a powerful weapon?” She whispered keenly.
    I thought hard about this for a moment, pondering the meaning of all this before responding, “I do not” I said with reverence. “I am a simple woman who, up until recently, has lived a simple life. I do not believe I am even worthy of being the princess I am. I hone no special abilities. I know not what I am doing. I am simply trying to survive and learn what I am capable of along the way. I do not see any reason for you wanting to give me the sword anyway.” I finish with a huff”, “No offense, of course.” I quickly add.
    With that, she pulled the sword from beneath the table and laid it in front of me. All eyes were on us; every fairy had stopped what they were doing to listen and watch.
    “You are humble, my child. If you had said you were worthy you would not have received the sword. I respect your answer and for that the sword is yours. You are more special than you realize, child. Soon, you will see just how strong you are.” Queen Falora paused a moment, “It has been foretold that an Elven Princess will wield the sword of Belzamarth and change the world as we