Evil Queens, Evil Gazebos, and the Mystifying Voice of the Divine

From Gwyneth:

When I finally awoke, it was either night again, or the being who created this pocket universe just really likes night. Could be either. I felt rested, but stiff, largely due to the unwieldy wings. Stretching them was a joy, though. Before sleep, I’d tried the usual tricks to remove wings (since I mostly wear them only for ceremonial purposes) and received nothing in return for my trouble. When I started repeating the tricks to see if a second hit from the same stick might help, I got a sharp pain in my wing root (the right one), and heard a very clear, “Not yet, Your Majesty.” Well. That was odd.

I stifled a yawn with my hand, only to be surprised into a gasp and a probably not-very-attractive facial experession as Kvit landed on my shoulder.

“Well, well, well, missy,” he said, and none too kindly either. “You just couldn’t stand it, could you?”

In case I have not been forthcoming about this detail, my darlings, mornings and I do not get along very well. We never have. “I what?” I said dumbly, vaguely noticing one of the doves was trying to catch one of my massive feathers (I need to know what all the feathers are called, eventually, I guess. I think Brán is a bird watcher; if he’s not, he ought to be. I’ll ask him.). “No you don’t, little sister,” I said (to the dove).

“Excuse me?” Kvit asked, knowing full well I wasn’t talking to him but just wanting to wind me up.

I pointed dumbly at the dove. “She wanted a feather.”

“Don’t be ridiculous; she could not even lift one of those feathers. Tiny, not of corvid stock?” He sniffed. “Of no consequence.”

“Stuffy, stuffy corvids,” I muttered. “Yes, I know, you heard that.”

“I hear everything,” Kvit replied, as if it were true.

I glamoured a refreshing mist over my face; that woke me up, a little. “Now,” I finally said to Kvit, “what exactly is it you think I can’t stand?”

He spread his wings. “Me. You can’t stand all this beauty.” I know he was trying to wiggle his brows, but all that happened was his monocle moved up and down a little.

“You think I envied your wings,” I said evenly.

He puffed up. “Who wouldn’t?”

Oh, Kvit. It was too easy. “Your mother!” I stage-whispered — and I nearly spat tea into my hand, I was laughing so hard. He laughed, too.

“Well,” he said, in between cackles and gasps, “maybe it’s the feathered wings that gives one this enlightened sense of humour, then! I should research.”

(I should note that Kvit’s idea of research is going to the Great Library, getting distracted by whatever Ari has on her desk for lunch, and getting shooed out.)

“You get right on that, then.” (Sorry, Ari.) “Hey, wow, look over there. I don’t think that was here when I arrived. Surely I would have noticed.”

*A monolithic sight. And a monolithic site.*

“Big rocks,” Kvit said, without obvious interest. “Good for … leaving little presents on.”

“Seriously, Kvit?”

“You’d rather I shat on your head?”

I wrinkled my nose, stared at him. I got up and crossed, silently, toward the half-circle of stones, then thought better of it. “Let’s explore them later,” I said. “I think there’s a gazebo in that forest clearing over there.”

“Please don’t tell that joke again,” Kvit said.

“Oh, like that works with you,” I replied.

“Kvit,” I said. “Are you detecting any evil?”

“Your Fae Majesty,” replied Kvit frostily. “Yes. It’s you. You are the evil. You do not even have to tell that joke again and I am telling it to myself, in my head. What foul sorcery is this?”

“Neither foul, nor sorcery,” I replied. “Just the nature of intelligent beings. Be happy you’re not a human: the average human, having heard me tell that joke a few times and then refer to it a few more, would probably decide they love the joke and then go on to torture their friends with it.” I smiled. “Which of course, comes back to me as cause and effect magic and contributes a small but not insignificant amount toward my overall power and influence in the multiverse. Folks think we put out so much effort to hoodwink humans, but really we’d have to put out more effort not to hoodwink humans.” I shrugged. “Hey, are you getting any magic here? I think I feel something.”

Kvit screeched and mock-dove for my neck. Luckily, I managed to dodge, or I’d have had to have him executed for assaulting the Queen.

What? Rules are rules, you know.

When he finally calmed down, we spent some time exploring the forest but we didn’t find much of interest. Finally, I sighed. “I’m just procrastinating, you know.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah; I promised I’d furnish the house as payment for sort of pocket universe loafing for a couple of days.”

Kvit made one of those chirps I’ve come to interpret as dismissive. “Did you sign anything?”

“I did not. Of course not.”

“Then I don’t see any reason to refer to that as a promise,” he said.

I sighed. “Do I have to explain the Sidhe and oaths to you again, Kvit? I said I would furnish that house.” We were walking in that direction by this time. “I said it out loud, even though it would have been just as binding had I merely promised it in a thought in this case. I am compelled to do it. Additionally, if I for some massively stupid reason choose not to do it, then I am an oath-breaker.”

“Oh, I remember this part,” said Kvit. “The big, nasty Wild Hunt might come and chase you to the ends of the earth or something, right?”

I balled my hands into fists. “I don’t want to talk about it.” We were almost to the door. “You go do something ravens do, and I’ll take care of my promise.”

To his credit, Kvit brushed his head across my face. “I wouldn’t want you to get chased by the big, nasty Wild Hunt,” he said. “I’m the only flying thing that gets to chase you.” I almost laughed, but I could tell he meant it, so I just nuzzled back. He flew off into the forest, and I wiped the tear away from my eye. I’m glad he didn’t see that.

If I’m honest, I didn’t expect it to take very long to decorate a small cottage, even when I was creating everything out of pure magic.

The cottage was actually — I mean, I wouldn’t describe it as a TARDIS or anything (yes, I remember Dr Who), but it definitely felt bigger on the inside.

I took these photographs before I decorated the small bedroom on the back of the house, but in my mind living space is more important, anyway. By this time I’d been awake in this pocket universe long enough to know that it really was night all the time, so I tried manifesting things with good night-time symbols. I think the only bright thing I put in the house was the little sign by the door; it’s an autumn leaf frame and the words say, “Pocket Universe, Sweet Pocket Universe.” Well, I thought it was clever, anyhow.

Just as I was about to finish up, I got a FaeTime ping to let me know that those amazing artisans at HarshLands had some decor ready to ship. Luckily, I’m on the magical express shipping plan, so it arrived almost immediately. It looked like it would go perfectly in front of the house, and sure enough, I was right! (Am I ever wrong? Don’t answer that.)

*Witch hats with crystals to interact with the wind!*

I felt satisfied.

“Are you quite finished, Your Fae Majesty?” I could tell Kvit was using my title ironically, and I shot him a sardonic look.

“Tell me you like my new hanging hats!” I said.

“I like your new hanging hats,” said Kvit, in a very robotic voice.

“They have little crystals on!”

“Ooh, ooh,” Kvit said, completely deadpan. “The little crystals are so visually attractive.”

”I’m so glad you approve,” I said. “Don’t you love, also, how they sway in the wind?”

”Oh, yes,” came the bird’s sarcastic reply. “Almost as much as I love you, Queen Gwyneth. Shall we go explore those stones?”

For once, I couldn’t tell if Kvit was serious. “I guess it’s time,” I said. “It’s not that they look menacing — but did you see that portal through one of the arches?”

Kvit snorted. “Yes, and I saw it outside of the arches too; it’s been conveniently put there for your journey back to Awenia. I thought you’d done it. You can see the town hall right through the portal if you look closely.”

I admitted I hadn’t given it all that close a look.

“As for the stones,” Kvit said, “you should approach carefully. We should fly,” he suggested.

That … that sounded surprisingly reasonable. “Then so we shall,” I said.

And everything was going well, until we got close to the central stone, which was carved into the shape of a throne.

*Do I look like your fledgling? No? Then **shut up**!*

“Gwyneth!” shouted Kvit. “You want to be super careful landing here. We do not want to touch the stones!”

“What are you talking about?” I shouted back. “Are you insane? Of course we want to touch the stone!”

“It’s your funeral!” Kvit screeched. “You have no idea what kind of magic is in these stones.”

I rounded on him. “Maybe not, but I do know the person who build this pocket is an amateur,” I said. “I doubt seriously any of their magic would affect me.”

Kvit stilled, almost hovering (ravens aren’t meant to be able to do that). “Gwyneth, you feel different. I noticed it when I first perched on your shoulder, before we went off to see that stupid gazebo, where I did not take out a Holy Avenger Sword. Because, among other things, I cannot lift a Holy Avenger Sword. Whatever has happened to you in the past few days has been profound and life changing, and you are likely going to be affected in ways you cannot predict right now.”

Well. I hovered right back at him (faeries can do that). “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Kvit. I’m just the same as I’ve always been, aside from that unfortunate lapse into poetry yesterday.”

“Poetry is never — OK, some poetry is unfortunate, but yours is usually just incomprehensible,” Kvit said. “You said you had trouble getting those wings off when you woke up. Any luck with that since then?”

“No,” I admitted. “I haven’t actually tried, but that’s because the voice…”

“You heard a voice.”

“Stop interrupting me. The voice told me it wasn’t time yet.”

“Mmhmm. Let’s just land, right here, and no touching the stones, all right?”

“Fine.” I sighed. These wings were so large and unwieldy. I was going to have to reach out for something to get my balance.

‘Something’ turned out to be the only thing within reaching distance: the stone throne.

“Stop!” Kvit screeched. He attempted to get between my hand and the stone, but missed by millimetres; somehow, his wing feathers got caught in my ring.

And then I was very dizzy for what felt like hours but probably wasn’t that long, because when my head finally cleared, Kvit was full-on ranting at me.

“You irresponsible, presumptuous, reckless faery! What did I tell you? Don’t touch the stones! What did you do? Jump right into them! Do you have any idea how worried I was? How I have sat here and pecked at your face, worried you won’t wake up?” He was pacing. If this had been a cartoon, steam would have been coming out of everywhere.

I blinked. “I thought it would be all right.” My voice was croaky, like I hadn’t had anything to drink in a long time. “I have never been hurt by stones before. I thought stones liked me.”

He hissed. “Whatever’s happened to you has changed something, Gwyneth. You are highly reactive, which let us hope will be temporary, but this often happens when great power or station is bestowed upon someone.”

I blinked again. My internal narrator, who says things like, ‘Look into his eyes to show your sincerity,’ and other dumb stuff, was not there. No instructions were forthcoming, so all I could think to do was blink. I had to blink several more times before I realised what he’d said. “Nothing was bestowed on me,” I said. “Where are we?”

“Well, something happened to you.” Kvit hissed again. “We’re in your sitting room.” He jerked his head behind himself.

I looked up. And there were Brán, Wulfrich, Clutie, Nathaniel, and (surprise!) Fenella. “Fen,” I croaked out. “How did you get here?”

“You have had a bump to your head, haven’t you?” said the coal-skinned elf with the essence of Fenella. “TAC is better here.”

“Kvit says you weren’t assaulted,” came Wulfrich’s sure, smooth voice, “but I need to hear it from you, Your Majesty. I’ve already increased security around the Residence, such as it can be.” Wulfrich never liked that I moved us to a ground level house; it really came through in his voice now.

“I was not assaulted,” I said, carefully enunciating. “I’m not sure what happened to me, but it wasn’t violent. It was just … different.”

Clutie held her tiny hands together, pulling at her fingers until they lengthened, then pushing them back in again. “You have a mantle about you, Gwyneth,” she said. “A mantle of lights and magic. I can turn my folk to it, if you like, but these things are usually resolved by their instigators. I reckon we’ve got…” she narrowed her eyes, “Nineteen days? Yes. Nineteen days, give or take, ’til the Autumnal Equinox.”

Brán scribbled on his tablet. “What happens on the Equinox?” he asked Clutie.

Clutie sniffed. “Never you mind, you busybody. But I suspect it will involve a feast, a celebration, and very likely some guest luminaries.” Now, she smiled, turning the warmth of her demifae glamour onto Brán. No-one could resist that: not even I.

“Guest…luminaries,” Brán sounded out as he wrote, slowly. “Of course, my fae lady.”

Clutie caught my eye and winked. I saw that her eyelashes were jewels of dew, and that she was held together by little more than dandelion fluff.

I winked back.

I suspect you can hear this now? It was Clutie’s voice. I’ve never been the queen of voiceless communication; I could feel my eyes widen as I nodded. Good. It’ll make what’s to come easier on you, she continued.

“Still trying to clear you head, love?” Nathaniel leaned forward, concern lining his face that bore no lines except in times like this.

I met Nathaniel’s eyes as well. “I’m better now,” I said. “I think the cobwebs are well away.”

Beak to my ear, Kvit hissed softly, “You clever dissembler,” he said. “How is what you’ve just done any different from lying?”

I smirked. “You are a right annoyance, Kvit,” I said aloud. “In fact, Clutie? Could you have some of the staff make up a bed for me down here? I really think I just want to rest for now.”

“That means everyone out,” Wulfrich said. I smiled at him, because he never raised his voice, never; and yet there was everyone, including my Prince Consort, preparing to leave me on my own for the next several hours, just because he said to do so.

“Just so,” I said, feeling suddenly overwhelmed by tiredness. “Clutie, extra blankies?”

“Of course, Gwyneth,” she said. I suppose she flitted upstairs then.

There were murmurings and footsteps, I was smoothly transferred onto a bed of packed cotton with fine sheets and an extra thick duvet, and a little while later, I felt another duvet being laid over the first. Only a light fluttering let me know that the demifae were responsible for all of it. I closed my eyes, smiled, drifted.

“Oh, good; they’ve all gone away.” The voice was a woman’s voice, so young sounding but not young at all.

I opened my eyes and found myself, still dressed in yesterday’s tunic, still adorned with regalia and jewellery. I stared in the direction of the voice, but could make nothing out except a gentle glow.

“Sometimes,” she said, “when we detect that great works have been done and great Realms have been built, we choose to bestow a boon.”

“A boon,” I repeated. I felt stupid and thick-voiced next to her. I put a hand to my face, just to make sure my nerves were still functioning (they were). Again, I tried to focus my eyes on her and perceived only that gentle glow.

“We do not have a gender,” the voice corrected gently. “We are many, so you can say ‘we/they’ for us, and that will suffice. I see you are wondering what kind of boon — and the truth is, we do not know. We have only asked the Universe to bestow upon you that which will do you, your realm, and all the realms you touch the greatest amount of good. We will find out more, as your perceptive friend Clutie says, at the time of the Autumn Equinox. Until then,” continued the voice, “we hope you will make good use of your time, think about things you would like to do to serve the greater good, and remember always that we have done this because you have risen to it.”

Risen to it. “Wait,” I said. “Could you explain, please, why you used the phrase ‘moment of ascension’ yesterday? What did that mean?”

“That you have ascended, child,” replied the voice. And then, in a cadence I remembered: “Now, you sleep.”

And so I slept.

Notes & Credits:

Sponsored items are denoted with a “*”

Featured:

Gwyneth —

Gwyneth’s Dress: Senzafine, Sylvaine Tunic* (Get it at Forgotten Forest!)
Gwyneth’s Nails: Eventyra, Moon Star (Get it at Forgotten Forest!)
Gwyneth’s luminous hairbase: Miamai, Hairbase 3 (Get it at the Miamai Main Store!)
Gwyneth’s eyes: Hexumbra, Zenobie Eyes* (Get them at the Hexumbra Main Store)
Gwyneth’s eyeshadow: Hexumbra, Dolunay Eye Makeup* (Get it at the Hexumbra Main Store)
Gwyneth’s delicate brows: safe for mortals, forest brow (coming soon!)
Kvit: As always, Kvit is portrayed by CKit Falconry’s amazing and wonderful Magical Talking Raven Shoulder Pet. (Get him, and gear to match, at the CKit Falconry Main Store!) As an aside, I cannot say enough good things about CKit and the beautiful, interactive animals they create. Kvit, Uggla, Myrkendraum, SLaine, and a host of others are not just wonderful to photograph, they are great interactive pets as well.
Gwyneth’s new celestial skin: Velour, Faye Fantasy, in Lunaris. Body skin: Velour, Celestial body skin, in Lunaris.

On the set —

Stone Cottage: Dragon Magick Wares, Willow Cottage* (Get it at Forgotten Forest!)
Acorn Lanterns & Lighted Tree: Raindale, Acornglade Lantern* & Caelwyn Tree (hunt item!) (Get them at Forgotten Forest!)
Dovecotes: Circa Living, Mystic Forest Bird Cote* (Get them at Forgotten Forest!)
Stone Circle: Lore, Druid Stones (Get them at Forgotten Forest!)
Stone Throne: Lore, Druid Throne (Get it at Forgotten Forest!)
Gazebo (no evil detected): Raindale, Acornglade Pavilion (Get it at Forgotten Forest!)
Cabin Exterior Bench: Luna’s Chronicles, Eryn Bench (Get it at Forgotten Forest!)
Stoop Bookpile and Lantern: QE Home, Forgotten Forest Book Stack (Get them at Forgotten Forest!)
Hats Hanging from House Eaves: Harshlands, Hanging Witch Hats (Coming soon to Anthem!)
Kitty Planter: Witchlings, Kitty Planter (Get it at the Witchlings Main Store!)

Other Fancy Stuff:

Bodacious White Feathered Wings: Axis Mundi, Lucifer Wings (These are the small ones, y’all!)
Thorn Leg Wraps: Beloved Bones, Cursed Thorns Leg Wraps
Shoes: Azoury, Raserei
Hair: Stealthic, Destiny
Circlet: Angelicus, Leaf Headband
Necklace: Sigma, Ambrose Necklace
Earrings: Azoury, Sigraea
Glowy hand bits: Quills & Curiosities, Hexing Touch
Gwyneth is styled on a Legacy body and a Lelutka EvoX Billie Mesh Head.