Six white horses and six black horses are the only company I have on my island. I am the seventh child of my parents, the King and Queen of the Green Mountains. I am also the youngest, and perhaps unluckiest. I think fate had plans for me before I was born. I was different, from the beginning. My three sisters had golden-hair like my mother. My three brothers were the image of the King. All their children have the King's warm brown eyes, except for me. My hair is a mass of red curls spilling down my back, and my eyes are bright green... like mother's. Apparently mother and I share a drop of fairy blood from our ancestors. It is that little magical drop that has brought me to this island. It may also be that my fairy blood will save me. For some reason, it is stronger in my veins than in my mother. She said I look just like her grandmother, but never told me about the fairy from who we descended. She didn't like to speak of magic and fairies.
I was fourteen years old when the Witch came. Tales told of a very ugly witch living in a valley beneath our mountains. We thought it was just a story to frighten us children.
It was my birthday when she came to the castle door and demanded audience with the royal family. My father didn't believe in witches, and he was known to given everyone a fair chance. She hobbled into the throne room, and I felt a warning prickle in my fingers. I always had these prickles just before something bad was going to happen, like the time when I was ten years old and fell out of a tree. My brothers had dared me to climb it. Thankfully, I only sprained my ankles. But I had cold prickles in my fingers just before I climbed. I never told anyone about my little 'gift.'
The Witch certainly didn't look like a threat. Her hair was white, and braided down her right shoulder. Her face sagged in layers of wrinkles. She was hunchbacked, and had to crane her head backwards to see anyone's face. When she tried to smile at us, I counted four teeth in her mouth. Nevertheless, my fingers were full of prickles, and they were slowing creeping up my arms. I hugged myself, trying to get it to stop.
"Your majesty..." Wheezed the hag, as she swept what I think was a bow to my father. "I have heard tale of your lovely family and I come bringing gifts for your children, to honor them." I saw my sisters' eyes light up. They loved pretty baubles and gifts. The Witch pulled a long black box out of her sleeve. I always wondered how she managed to hide it there without it falling out. "Seven fine rings for the children of the King." Hummed the Witch, and she lifted the box lid. The first three rings I noticed were very delicate--adorned with three, perfect white pearls. My sisters sighed with longing immediately. The next three were black, thick bands of onyx, with carvings of dragons. I saw my brothers perk with a little interest. Yet it was the seventh ring that drew me from my seat. It was a ring carved from a small white and brown conch shell. I ached to see the ocean, ever since I heard tales of it in Court when I was little. I spent hours in the library staring at drawings of waves, fish, and seashells.
"Princess Naida," My father cleared his throat. I suddenly realized I was standing and moving toward the Witch. Her black eyes were locked on me in a way that made prickles in my hands dance throughout my whole body. I blushed, and tried to step back to my chair. The Witch grinned widely at me. "No, no, please come take. Granny Gullveig knows what you wish." She picked up the conch ring with her gnarled fingers and held it out to me. "Take. I see you want it, child."
My legs were shaking. The warnings in my veins thrummed
danger, danger, danger. But the Witch was right, I did want that ring. It was calling to me. I looked to my mother for approval. She nodded her head graciously, so I stepped forward and reached for the ring. The Witch's eyes were boring into me, as if looking for something unseen. I extended my left hand, and she gently set the ring in my palm. "I see your magic, child." She whispered so that only I could hear. Her smile widened, and once again I found myself counting her four lonely teeth. What could that mean? Her words were puzzling, and I decided she was not sane. "Thank you, madam." I said loudly for my parents' benefit and quickly fled to my chair with my prize. I had what I wanted, so I didn't pay attention as my other siblings were called up, one by one, to reciever their rings. I was lost in the mystery of my shell ring, and I could almost imagine hearing the ocean when I held it to my ear. My sisters and brothers had put on their rings, and they were examining each other's.
"Thank you for your kindness." I barely heard my mother say. "Is there anything we may do for you in return?"
"Yes," Said the Witch. I was slowly slipping the seashell ring over the middle finger of my right hand. The fit was just right! "...I ask for only one thing." Suddenly the old woman straightened her spine with several gruesome cracks, and stood twice as tall as she did before. Her wrinkles smoothed and her hands were soft, graceful. The features of a young woman took the place of the hag who had been standing before us a moment ago. She smiled, and I noticed her mouth was full of perfect, white teeth. And then when she spoke again, her voice was music, "I want your youngest child, Princess Naida."
The ring tightened around my finger, never to be removed again.
~"Fairy Blood" ~now on Wattpad. http://www.wattpad.com/story/1273335-fairy-blood
