"Freya's Voyage"

Happy first day of October.

I wrote “Freya’s Voyage” a while ago it’s a short fantasy fiction story, Happy reading.

“Nothing is quite as it seems” villagers have whispered to each other from dawn till dusk, Since the first day of autumn in the Eastern Montoro Castle. The Montoro king must have forgotten many seers, healers and shapeshifters roamed his territory nothing ever was unrecognizable. The Eastern Montoro Castle was built on soil that was most potent with magic in the realm of Ovia. The castle was most loved across the realm of Ovia for its seasons: autumn, winter, spring and summer. The favorite amongst most due to each season went through a proper cycle. The healers loved the potency of the magic in the soil; the seers cherished the divination crystals that could be found in various locations of the land and the shapeshifters were never frowned upon but honored by the High Fae King and his court.

“Nothing is quite as it seems,” echoed softly a cloak figure against an elk tree into the night observing the Eastern king’s army from afar. The cloak figure moved away from the tree following the uneven dirt path previously explored. The energy in the air felt stiff as if every creature, tree, and living being was holding still due to the presence of the Eastern King’s Army. The cloak figure decided it was best to observe from far away, The Montoro King wasn’t malicious; he was loved by many across the realm of Ovia. The King was kind with a generous heart to the villagers, but with an iron fist for ill intent opposers of any diplomacy. “What do you think this means Freya?” A deep aquamarine glow the size of a pinecone appeared near the cloak figure’s right shoulder. Freya stood still before responding quickly, “I’m not sure Celeste…We must conceal ourselves better it isn’t safe especially with the two of you glowing like festival lanterns.” Freya felt a small thump on her left shoulder. “That’s the best you can do Moxie?” An ember glow replied, “It’s not my fault I was blessed with dainty feet not humongous feet.” Freya rolled her eyes at that comment, “Sure…because High Fae have humongous troll feet.” The trio continued along the path trying to find shelter that best fit against any danger. Freya was about to share with her friends the lavender colored bottle she found hidden the previous morning. The bottle was sticking out along the stone wall they passed leaving Eastern Castle territory. Freya lost her train of thought when Celeste commented, “We should find a cave or at least a cluster of trees.”

“Where is Buttercup? Maybe he can help us find any safe spaces or even berries to eat…I’m simply starving,” added Moxie into the conversation. Freya wasn’t even paying attention to either her sprite companions, just simply enjoying the walk. “We should be safe amongst these trees,” murmured Freya, “with just a touch of glamour magic our space will be invisible.” The trio picked a spot to rest inside three huge elk trees that created a huge triangle. Freya felt the broken Rose Quartz pieces in her pocket. She sat down against a tree working on her glamour magic rummaging through her traveler’s sack. The broken rose quartz would amplify the glamour spell mixed with her aegirine piece once placed in the soil. Freya could feel Moxie’s eyes on her “Did you break that piece?” Freya didn’t respond , but rather  continued to search for her protection Aegirine piece. She was able to find it quickly, allowing herself to begin placing the pair of crystals together. The offering of the two crystals placed in the soil allowed protection and peace of mind. “Do you have any food in there Freya?” asked Celeste who was resting upon grass. “Celeste, I’m sure she has more than food in there…don’t worry,” smiled Moxie. Freya started to dig through her magical sack pulling out various items from healing potions, a journal, crystals and lastly food. Celeste smiled at the sight of sunflower seeds that were held in a tiny linen bag. Freya was about to pass her the seeds when she heard leaves rustle from the nearby berry bristle bush, “Buttercup did you find food?” A silky skunk pitter patter near her with a tiny rodent in its mouth. Buttercup pounced on to Freya’s lap causing her to drop the seeds on the grass, and own lap. “Freya! Did you drop all the sunflower seeds?” groaned Moxie glaring at the duo. Buttercup, oblivious of what his movement caused, ignored Moxie and Celeste circling around as best as he could, snuggling amongst Freya with a rodent still in his mouth. “I have more snacks in there don’t worry, some rosemary loaves and orange blossom jam,” replied Freya while stroking Buttercups fur. Freya smiled at Buttercup who could never do wrong in her eyes, she’ll never forget the time she got him in town at the near age of eight. A traveling merchant had a couple of wooden crates with exotic animals, sometimes her naïve essence got the best of her even till this age of twenty-nine. When she arrived home there was no baby dragon or griffin but a tiny skunk. She’ll never forget her parents’ amusement of her reaction, truly speechless but filled with joy. “I wanted to share something with the two of you. The other day as we passed the courtyard in the Castle. I found an unusual object in the stone wall,” Freya gently placed Buttercup on the grass allowing herself to pull out a thin bottle the color of lavender from her sack. “Really Freya is that truly the best spot? You either break stuff out of anger or drop things due to being clumsy,” scolded Moxie. Celeste flicked Moxie on the ear, “Leave her alone it’s a habit she’s aware of that needs work.” Freya held the empty bottle in her fingers, “Watch when you open the cork a tiny scroll appears.” The two sprites flew, taking their places on her shoulders. Freya opened the bottle causing a tiny scroll to appear. All three examined the blank scroll until words slowly appeared in fresh ink. Freya began to read the passage: “Woe thee traveler, who never aspires to see all the realms. Who never questions anything at all. Yet, wishes to remain still. Woe thee the traveler who reads this” signed ELM. Celeste was first to respond, “I wonder if Elm is a villager, a merchant or someone playing trickery to get reaction for their own amusement.” Moxie shrugged her shoulders. Freya remained silent listening to her friend’s conversation. “Let us rest now, it will be best to walk into the nearest town tomorrow,” said Moxie. The night was silent as Freya couldn’t fall asleep and a feeling of dread was bothering her night routine. She had a feeling the past would appear anytime soon. The next morning Freya woke up to a bit of a tickle on her nose, “Buttercup stop it I’ll give you a piece of loaf.” Buttercup nudged his nose on her side causing Freya to be alarmed. There upon her nose was a brown butterfly with white spots. “A completion is nearing Freya,” Moxie observed the brown butterfly, “Whether good or bad you must make a personal decision you wish to partake in. Celeste and I will always be by your side.”  Freya reached out with her index finger to touch the butterfly before it flew away. “We must continue on our journey,” commented Freya. The trio gathered all the pieces of the protective glamour spell before going to the nearest village.

The village wasn’t too far away from the Eastern Castle. A small village that had a couple of shops, and the coziest bookshop. “Let’s go to the bookshop first there might be new trinkets,” said Celeste in front of the group. Freya nodded to Celeste while putting her cloak up, “Sounds good to me.” The trio walked inside the bookshop smiling, taking their time unknowingly aware that the bookshop owner turned the shop sign closed. “Moxie look at this Garnierite palm stone… I really want a new journal, but this palm stone is really calling to me,” said Freya. There was no response, just silence causing Freya to look for Moxie or Celeste. “Moxie? Celeste?” called out Freya, the shop was bigger inside than it appeared to be. Freya felt the need to walk faster with a sudden pause in her movement, “Father.” Freya dropped the palm stone on the ground having it break into pieces. In the center of the backroom was the King of Montoro dressed in high garments as if it was an ordinary day, “Freya.” Freya was too stunned to speak. She observed the whole room, including her father looking for her sprite friends. “No harm has been done, I casted a glamour spell they think you are still staring at the journals near the wall display. Freya, didn’t I teach you better than to deceive me. I am the master of illusions. What is the reason for leaving the castle?” Freya held no anger, just embarrassment, it took this long to tell her father the truth. “I’m listening child, but you left this behind. I think you have a possession of mine too,” said the King pulling out a rolled-up scroll. Freya dug through her traveler’s sack grabbing the first thing to give her father. “Here,” jokingly handing Buttercup to the King. “That is not my pet. The bottle you took from the courtyard,” responded her father. Freya was too stunned to speak. “I just feel trapped …I want to see more father. I want to travel the realms, I don’t want to be forced into marriage or bare children because it is my duty,” said Freya letting everything out , “ In this moment I’m not happy here…I know it’s odd but you could place any illusion in front of me and I could still feel it in my soul something isn’t right.” The king of Montoro frowned upon hearing of this, “Then I must have failed you. I thought we have spoken about this before Freya…communication with you was never my strongest point as father.” Freya didn’t respond but ran to hugging the king with all her strength, “I love you Father…I didn’t know how to approach you. What should I have said I found this flyer advertising a ship Voyage to the islands of Chrysalis, please let me go alone with my two sprite friends?” The king of Montoro released Freya raising his brow, “That doesn’t sound too safe, does it? Did you meet someone from the islands? Pirate fae have always loved showing off their ships. They always smell like sea musk. What’s wrong with smelling like fall mixed with nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon?” Freya groaned, “Father that is what I mean. I want to go alone just with Buttercup, Moxie and Celeste.” The king of Montoro was silent for a couple of moments, “I guess I better keep the glamour spell that you’re roaming in the eastern court with a book in your hands. Plus, change that hair to black instead of your red.” Freya smiled at her father taking in all he said. “Don’t think I will not have a guard follow you occasionally I’m not that careless of a father. Lastly, stay away from the princes of Chrysalis.” Freya squealed, hugging her father, “I’ll return in four seasons like the flyer said.”

The king of Montoro nodded, placing a kiss on her head. “Be safe my child you may keep that bottle of mine. May you gain strength, create new memories and remember this I am ELM,” the king said as he quickly vanished. Freya stood still realizing her father might have placed another illusion but realized he was here the whole-time hearing hooves behind the bookshop fleeing fast. “Farewell father,” said Freya.

Nothing was quite as it seemed Freya thought boarding the ship with her two best friends and nestled skunk in her traveler’s sack.

Thank you for reading my first fantasy fiction short story -Chelsea S.