Where Wings Dare Not Fly

My name is Rosaleta. Today is April 24, only two days until the Elderglen Gala. This has always been an important event for my family. For centuries it has been my family’s chance to show the other founding families that we own Elderglen. Wait, let me provide some context.  

I live in an otherworldly place called Elderglen. Elderglen is home to all sorts of creatures- fairies, gnomes, ogres, and worst of all, elves. I am a fairy. My family-the Glimmerthorns- have lived in Elderglen forever. It was my great-great-great-great-great granpoppy who discovered this place. He brought all his sisters, brothers, and fairy friends here. It was only 5 years later when the WcJingle family got here. They were elves. Tension filled the air, neither the elves nor the fairies wanted to share this beautiful forest. I am yet to hear the full story, but I do know my great-great-great-great granpopalina (Granpoppy’s daughter) fell in love with an elf. My family tells stories of how he broke her. She was never the same after the WcJingle boy got through to her. As more fairies and elves inhibited the land, there was nothing my family or the WcJingle’s could do to make them leave. Eventually, ogres and gnomes came here too. Elderglen became the beautiful, diverse, magical place it is today. The WcJingle’s seem to have forgotten about the problems between our families, but my family never forgot. The only things elves are good for is being total doofuses. They never take anything seriously and are known for their fibs. Despite us all putting on smiles and making small talk, us Glimmerthorns still loathed the WcJingles.’  

Anyways, the Elderglen Gala is an event hosted every year in memory of the ogres and gnomes coming here to Elderglen. My family always looked at it as an opportunity to show the WcJingles’ and everyone else that this is our land. We are the founding family of Elderglen. Now, there are only two days. I must look my best, speak my best, and most importantly behave my best. My old lover was surely going to be there, and even though I do not miss him, I need him to see how good I am doing.  

I go into town to pick out the perfect flowers for the event. Not all match my hair, and I must look perfect for the gala. I am leaving the flower shop with my light purple hydrangea’s when I hear an unfamiliar voice say, “Those are lovely, but I think pink peonies would suit you more.” I quickly turn around and drop my hydrangeas out of shock. It was Kelleno WcJingle. My blood begins to boil. I give him my nastiest look and ask why he thinks he has the right to comment on my choice of flower. He has hit on me before. Since Cogan and I broke up, he has been reaching out to me nonstop. I did NOT like him though. How could I? He gives me a condescending smirk and asks what the attitude is for. “Wait, is all this attitude over our family’s drama? I was just giving some honest advice” he laughs. I look down at my feet and nod slowly. I do not know what came upon me, but his snarky remark made me feel stupid for being so rude all over family drama from centuries ago. He picks my hydrangeas up, hands them to me and whispers, “My family forgot about that decades ago. Your family should too. Maybe then we could be friends.” For some reason, my stomach begins to tingle. I had not felt this way since my old lover Cogan.  

Suddenly I am brought back to reality. I snatch the flowers from his hands, thank him for the “advice,” and storm out of there. My family would never approve of a WcJingle. Maybe there was a moment, but a boy like that, an elf, a WcJingle, would NEVER be my destiny. I had to fight this feeling and just forget about it.  

A few days go by, and April 26 has arrived- the day of the gala. I put on my dress, decorate my face with glitter, accessorize my hair and wings with flowers and am now ready to get going. My mother and father commend me for my beauty and honestly, I feel great. All I am focusing on is seeing Cogan. I pray that he will be happy to see me. However, a small part of me just cannot shake that feeling Kelleno gave me… whatever it was, would have to wait. This was my night.  

My family and I arrive, and the night is going as planned. Generations of ogres, gnomes, fairies, and even elves are showering me with compliments. I am over the moon. Then, I spot Cogan. I start walking over to him, slightly nervous and go in to greet him with a hug. He looks me up and down and offers me a handshake. A feeling of disappointment comes over me. I walk away and accept it; Cogan is not in love with me anymore. While drowning my sorrows in Springwater mocktails, I hear that same estranged voice from behind me. “What is going on Rosaleta? You seem so… sad. Talk to me,” the voice mutters. I turn around and there he is… Kelleno, looking more handsome than ever. I quickly remember my surroundings and pull him into the leafy corridor where no one is. “You cannot speak to me out there! I am a Glimmerthorn. My family will disown me if they see me with a WcJingle boy,” I exclaim. Kelleno calms me down. He assures me that there is nothing wrong with a little friendship… but if I am so worried that we do not have to tell anyone. At this point I cannot fight this any longer. “I do not want to be friends with you Kelleno! I want to be more. I think… I like you!” I shout. Kelleno’s mouth drops. In this moment, I am scared for my life. After the longest minute of my life, he grabs my hand and says, “I never thought I would hear you say those words, Rosaleta.” He tells me he has been drawn to me since the first time he laid eyes on me all those years ago. I grin widely, ear to ear, and take him outside. We spent the whole night looking at the stars, laughing, and having the most meaningful conversations I have ever had. It felt like a dream. In this moment I forgot about our families’ history. All that mattered was him. I like him. This could be my next era. If only I knew what was yet to come…