The eve when Odessa turned sixteen. It was a celebration like no other. Every fairy prepared the kingdom for a fine party all day. Glitter and gold spread all around, satin streamers, and sparkling flowers compliment the entire decor.
Odessa was fluttering around the forest now. But very quickly her wings began to tire. She was very young to be flying around the garden. But she was brave. Odessa landed on another white rose and her wings drooped.
She then fluttered a bit more into the little village, but tried not to be seen by others. She then heard the sounds of tiny giggling. She then landed in the grass and found two fairies playing a skipping game. But she was a princess, though; princesses don’t have time to play.
She then fluttered through the trees. It was filled with a lot of colorful fairies and flowers. and The temperature was very different. Odessa then spotted a pair of butterflies fluttering around her and then the way out of the forest. She then giggled.
Odessa then followed the butterflies and found that it was quickly getting dark. One the way back to the village, she spotted vivid scarlet flowers and the Poppy fairies noticed her fluttering by.
Right when she stood right in the middle, close to her palace. The other fairies, servants, and guards gathered around her. Not only was she turning a year older, but she was about to become the queen. When she ascended the throne, everyone bowed in respect. She looked upon the land, her kingdom, and a sense of pride and honor filled her. Her people were happy and they were like a family to her.
They crowned her with a beautiful golden headpiece and danced around her in a circle, signifying her position in power. The headpiece was so heavy on her head, yet she felt an immense sense of responsibility and importance. She was a queen now. Queen of the fairies.
She then danced a beautiful variation for her subjects. It was a way of expressing joy and happiness, especially for this rite of passage. She fluttered and glided across the ground on pointe, up on her toes. She moved with grace and beauty, elegance, and swaying her arms in the air like a beautiful swan. Her steps were so precise and delicate, she was like a beautiful ballerina floating across the stage.
As she twirled around, the flowers seemed to have bowed down towards her, as if they were awestruck by her beauty. Her wings were fluttering gently in the wind and her hair flowed right behind her. She pirouetted once on one foot and knelt down, her subjects clapping for her. She felt so grateful for this moment about her. The subjects would not stop applauding. She at least took six bows.
The party officially began as the fairies danced, drank, cried, and laughed, sharing all kinds of mixed feelings. Right when the other villagers were joining the princess’s dance, Odessa heard a very faint sound of a violin, coming from in the distance.
The music filled her ears, blocking out other noises around her. Odessa heard the sound, but she couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. She asked the guards.
“I hear this beautiful sound of music. I don’t know where it’s coming from, though.”
“I’m sorry, miss,” said a guard, “We don’t hear anything.”
She flitted around, trying to find the source of the music. Nothing. She even began to feel…strange. It was as if the music was calling out to her. It made her want to dance. Odessa then lifted herself up on pointe again and glided across the ground, smiling from this beautiful music that was playing. She felt so free and light, like she was on a cloud. The music grew louder and louder and it felt as though it could be anywhere.
Right when the violin trilled, her feet moved even faster. Suddenly, her head began to feel light and her vision blurred. This was like a trance. She danced faster and faster, the music growing louder and louder. Her subjects became worried for her. But they couldn’t hear what she was hearing.
Suddenly, the music stopped. Odessa couldn’t shake the feeling of the music. She looked around, confused and tired. She felt like she was in a dream and didn’t know what was real or not. Then, she yawned and stretched out her arms.
“Oh, dear…” she said softly, “Why does such beautiful music make me…sooo sleepy.”
Odessa had a sudden urge to close her eyes. She started to lean back and sway, losing consciousness. Her guards rushed to catch her before she fell. Her subjects thought that she had gone mad. But she didn’t. At least, to her. Thankfully, she was all right.
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The next morning, Odessa woke up in her bedroom, dizzy and exhausted. She looked around and realized she was back in the palace. She felt a sense of peace filling her soft and gentle heart. Eventually, she got out of bed and dressed up.
As Odessa fluttered into the air, she then flew away from her heart and home. As she flew past the burrows, the meadows, and the babbling brooks, she then found another garden. She turned to the other side and saw a big oak tree. There was a hole that was roomy enough for her to sneak into. And so, she settled in and rested.
As she listened to the sounds of squirrels chattering and birds chirping, Odessa wondered if it was someone… a person…playing the violin last night. She couldn’t help but feel a little warm in her cheeks.
“Maybe it was a handsome prince…” she tittered.
It was noon. Odessa then fell fast asleep. She dreamt of who the mysterious handsome prince would be. She was happy and carefree, not a worry in the world. She danced along to the beautiful music and the prince played with a sweet soft smile on his face. Her delicate white wings fluttered gently. She then sighed contentedly, enjoying the comfort of the tree.
Suddenly, she heard the violin again. Her eyes snapped open and looked around. The sound was loud and clear. She fluttered out and up the trees, searching for the source of the music. She realized that her tree was close to the garden of another palace. A palace the size of humans. Odessa then flew closer and found herself in the gardens. However, the music stopped. Odessa frowned.
<The moment I’m closer to the source of something, I can’t find it anymore,> she thought, pouting.
However, the music played again. This time it was softer than loud. She looked up at an open window. She fluttered up and landed on the balcony. With her heart beating wildly, she peeked inside.
The young, handsome Prince Hendrick was playing a beautiful piece, his eyes closed and fingers so gentle. Odessa’s heart skipped a beat as she watched the prince. His eyes were closed and his back was turned to her, but she could still see his beautiful face. Startled, she hid herself in the leaves of the branch close to the window. She peaked her head out only a little.
The music had stopped. Odessa then came out from the leaves and sat on the branch. She saw him writing something down in a notebook. Hendrick was focused; he didn't notice Odessa’s small figure. He then looked up at the ceiling. He had a sudden urge to go outside. Scared that the prince might be coming outside, Odessa darted away and hid up in the trees.
Hendrick then arrived outside, gently tending to the roses and caressing their petals softly. Until he heard a soft rustle in the trees. Odessa was hiding out on the branches of a tree. Her wings fluttered against the leaves, thus making the rustling.
The sounds received Hendrick’s attention. He stepped back and looked around. He couldn’t see anything at first. But as he listened closer, he heard a tiny rustle of leaves from above. Odessa was too frightened to show herself, but her presence was felt.
Hendrick looked up into the trees and saw a shadow flitting between the leaves. He reached out and tried to grab for it, but he felt nothing except the rustling leaves. But as he listened more, he heard something very small fluttering nearby.
His ears perked up as he heard the soft flapping of small wings. He then saw a tiny figure perched on a branch, seemingly fast asleep. As he approached closer, he saw Odessa, resting on a branch, peacefully. He kept his distance, not wanting to disturb the sleeping little creature.
Odessa’s wings flutter in her sleep. Hendrick could see she was starting to wake up. He gently touches her wings, his touch like a mother’s caress. He wanted to speak with her, but he wanted to be gentle with the little fairy Odessa was.
“Hello…” he said, softly.
But Odessa whimpered. Hendrick knew that she was too sleepy to speak with him. He pecked her cheek and he quietly walked back up to the castle.
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Odessa then woke up with a warm feeling in her heart. She didn’t even feel the prince’s soft kiss or hear his soft voice. But she knew that her presence was felt. And so, she looked up at the open window. The music began to play again. This time, she fluttered up straight to the balcony.
Hendrick’s playing expressed his beautiful soul. His fingers could not help but feather onto the strings and they leaped, with each note. He stood still at the trills. His music was beautiful. Slow…not so fast…and romantic. It was as if it was the sound of Angels singing like bells. But then he stopped. He was saddened as he put his violin at its resting position. He looked down with a frown.
Odessa’s heart broke for Hendrick’s sadness.
I wonder if he is lonely too, she thought.
She turned her back to him and rose on pointe, making a bourée with her tiny, pointed feet. She glided side to side on the balcony. Her footsteps were so soft that they barely made a sound. Hendrick didn’t notice her just yet.
She danced and pranced, and leaped and twirled. She danced like a beautiful ballerina. By then, Hendrick stopped. He looked up. His eyes widened as he saw the same fairy he saw in the garden, dancing on his balcony. He stood very still and noticed that her movements were fluid and graceful, as if she was a delicate butterfly.
Odessa’s feet landed flat and her arms floated down. She didn’t move a muscle at first. She felt Hendrick’s eyes on her and she turned to look at him. Her wings fluttered softly, the sunlight hitting them and casting a bright glow. Hendrick then put his violin down and slowly walked closer to the little fairy.
Startled, Odessa tried to flutter away. But Hendrick gently grabbed her hand.
“Wait!” he said, gently pulling her closer to him, “Please don’t go…”
She whimpered and tried to flutter away again. But the prince pulled her back. He tried to kiss her hand; the fairy turned away. Hendrick took a step back as well. He turned around to think.
She might be too scared, he thought, But if she was that scared, she would have fluttered away.
While Odessa had the chance, she tried to flutter away once again. But Hendrick ran towards her and grabbed her hand gently to pull her close to him.
“Please don’t be afraid…” he whispered, “I do not mean you any harm…”
“Oh, goodness…” Odessa whimpered.
Hendrick pulled her closer and cupped her face with his one hand.
“Shhh…” he purred, “It’s okay…don’t be frightened…ever.”
“A-are you…”
“Yes…” Hendrick said, softly smiling.
Odessa wanted to be with him so much. But she knew that she had to go back home very soon. Hendrick leaned foward and she felt the warmth of his breath on her face. She couldn’t move, she was so captivated by him. She leaned forward too, inches away from his face.
Her breath was so sweet and Hendrick couldn’t resist any longer. He leaned forward and kissed her softly, their lips meeting.
A kiss…with a prince, Odessa thought.
She felt a tear on her cheeks. Why was she crying? Hendrick pulled away and saw her sadness. He wiped her tears with his thumbs and wrapped her all around his arms.
“You’re safe here…” he whispered.
Odessa curled up in his arms. She felt so much love from this beautiful prince. However, she had to flutter home; her subjects could be worried for her.
It began to get dark. The sun turned a beautiful shade of pink. Hendrick gently picked her up and carried her inside the palace, slowly and carefully, and sat her down on the couch of his bedchamber. He brought her a blanket and wrapped it around her. Odessa looked up at him with big, sad eyes.
Hendrick sat down next to her and held her hand, gently pulling her to his arms, resting half of his face on her forehead, then later kissing it.
“Don’t cry…” he said softly, “Please don’t be sad…it pains me to see a beautiful girl cry…”
Odessa couldn’t find the words. She was so in love with her prince…she wanted to be in arms forever. But she had to go home. And so, she worked up the courage.
“My prince,” she said, “I must go home. I have so many subjects and they are concerned for me…!”
“Go home?” Hendrick said, “But it’s so late and you must be tired. Stay here and rest, please. I will make sure you are safe. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
“My subjects need me! I can’t just leave them.”
Hendrick held her hands tightly.
“You can’t go out there in the dark. It’s dangerous and I won’t let you risk yourself like that. Please…stay here with me. Just for the night. I promise that you’ll go home tomorrow morning.”
Odessa sighed tearfully. She didn’t expect to be so far away from home. But she didn’t want to leave her prince either. Hendrick wanted his princess to stay. But he didn’t want to keep her against her will. She would have to go home eventually. He wiped away the last of her tears and held her close.
“Shhhh…don’t cry, my dear,” he cooed, “You can stay here with me and I’ll keep you safe. Your subjects shall be all right. They’ll wait for you until morning. Just get some rest, please.”
Hendrick kissed her forehead and held her close. Odessa’s eyes began to tire. Hendrick could feel her slowly slipping into sleep. He smiled softly and carried her to the bed, laying her down gently and tucking her in the warm blankets. He brushed away a few strands of her long brunette hair from her face.
“Sleep, my dear…” he whispered.
Odessa’s tears fell on the pillow and it was breaking Hendrick’s heart. He laid down next to her, caressing her cheeks.
“Don’t cry…”
“I just want to go home…” she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying so much.
Hendrick sighed softly. He hated to see a beautiful princess in pain and he wanted to make her feel better. He held her close and rocked her gently in his arms.
“It’s very late…” he cooed, “Your subjects will understand that. You need rest.”
After a while, her breathing slowed down and her tears stopped. She looked up into his eyes. He smiled softly and kissed her forehead. The soft kiss sent her to sleep. Hendrick’s smiled widened as she fell asleep in his arms. He cuddled her close to him and slowly fell asleep right next to her. All was quiet, except the sound of the two sleeping lovers.