Welcome

Roween flew quickly toward the fairy ring. She had been there only days earlier. Nearby, a Hawthorn tree grew. The tree was a source of power for fairies from long ago according to Roween. Although fairies no longer relied on them, it was still within a fairy’s nature to protect and visit them. Unlike most tall trees, the Hawthorn was one of the oldest in the forest, making it one of the first. The trees revered by all, even finding their way to become sacred to humans. Although many didn’t know, some still knew the old ways.

The fairy turned to see the others following closely behind. She knew they would be of use when confronting the unicorn trespassing in her forest. Although she was concerned, they might become a burden if the conceited animal were to control them.

Roween slowed her wings fluttering as her hand touching a nearby maple. It’s words singing in her mind’s ear.

“I know, my friend. I know the steed. Take hope, my friend. We’ll not let it feed.” Roween whispered as Fastel and Bastia clung to the same tree.

“It’s eating. Inside the fairy ring.” Bastia said.

That was before they all heard the unicorn, “ugh, these are rotten. I cannot eat these. The soft flesh would stain my wonderfully beautiful fur.”

Roween gave a smile. She could see the others smiling as well. The nearest apple was too far from the ground for the unicorn. The tree was letting them fall from previous, and other animals took some for food. The apple tree was giving in its nature, but as of yet, had not bestowed such grace on the white hooved beast now beneath its shade.

“You are not fair, you foolish tree. Your fruits are tasty and crunchy. I would much enjoy them for my feast.” The unicorn looked up, “Ah, I see my new friend has made it to the top.”

The horn of the creature pointed to a single fruit, “that one there looks very tasty. Bring it to me?”

The brownie under its influence looked around, touching several fruits, and insulted by the sparkling beast when incorrect. “No, you simple creature, the one I am pointing, That one.”

The creature moved his head horn in the direction of the one it desired, but its direction was still a mystery to the small brownie under its gaze. Finally, in its frustration, the unicorn stomped in anger and lost its concentration allowing the brownie to pause, shaking her head. Her mind was now hearing her own thoughts again. It was only a moment before she hopped away and out of the creature’s gaze.

“Arragh! Am I not delightful enough to hold any in my power?” The unicorn groused.

Roween smiled. She was more powerful than any brownie or unicorn. But she knew that if the creature ate apples within a fairy ring, it would steal the power there. And that would make it more powerful and more challenging to resist, even for her.

The unicorn was startled, throwing itself back on his hind legs as Roween flitted before him. A moment later, around its eyes glowed, and Roween yawned in mockery. Her eyes were blinking as she gave an innocent smile.

“Your gaze does nothing, can’t you see. So, stop your huffing and leave my trees.” Roween said, her voice stalwart lacking its usually musical tone.

The unicorn took offense and charged the fairy. Roween quickly flew out of the way as the unicorn rushed past its horn piercing nothing but air as it landed in the brush. Its weight making a thud as she tripped on the tangled vines crushing the wild fruits along the way. Roween watched as she floated nearby the white mane of the unicorn filled with prickly pods. The wild berries it crushed nearby now stained its fur. But, Roween knew what she was up against and did not take amusement in her foe’s misfortune. She still needed to get the beast away from the fairy ring and any apples that may fall within.

“Leave this place, find another. Leave, make haste, bother no other.” Roween again gave warning.

The unicorn huffed, its nostrils flaring as he stared at the floating fairy before him. The display and standoff were registering in the minds of those all around, the nixie even saying. “This would make a good tale, two creatures of beauty in the same place. Most humans would find it palatable.”

Fastel snorted, “a human would be entranced like any of us.”

The brownie shook its head, “humans don’t have magic. So they would not try to please the creature as we would have. Instead, they would try and capture its beauty for themselves.”

The nixie nodded, “you are right. Too bad we don’t have any humans nearby.”

Bastia said nothing as he watched the two standing their ground. He knew as well as any that what was transpiring was nothing more than a full battle. He looked to Fastel, “My friend, I think she may be able to resist if he eats within the ring. But, as for us, I fear we would become a hindrance.”

Fastel nodded, “you are right. We need to be careful and get this beast away from this place.”

They watched as the unicorn rushed forward, its horn aimed to strike. Roween gracefully dodged, but the creature turned. Its total weight now shifting toward the apple tree, and as it rushed back toward Roween, it missed again. Its path was one of fortune for itself and with its full weight striking the apple tree. The unicorn was stunned, but they all watched as the tree’s limbs swayed and shook. The unicorn recovered as it felt several light impacts across its back. In a daze, it turned its head.

The creature took a moment as it spied several fresh apples now on the ground nearby. Their small round forms were now rolling across the forest floor and into the fairy ring. This was noticed by Roween as well, and she waved her hands. Magic flew from her fingers, and the fairy ring lit brightly. Within moments light lifted from atop the mushrooms into the sky. The unicorn rushed forward, and when its horn stuck the light, it was deflected away.

The unicorn was stunned, and it huffed and snarled. It could see the apples now within the circle. Even with its anger, its power was not strong enough to enthrall the fairy. The creature stomped the ground, and as it did, its hoof slipped. In a rage, it bowed its head, nipping at the imaginary attack one to find a surprise.

In its mind, he yelled, an apple, and its mine.

Roween’s eyes darted to the sight of the unicorn’s gaze as it bowed down. She could hear its teeth crunching the fruit as it rose, the creature’s voice filled with satisfaction, “an apple near a fairy ring is just as good, my dear.”

The unicorn laughed as its eyes glowed. “Release the protection and allow me my feast.”

Roween felt her mind wander but only for a second. She then used her magic to make the protective ring stronger. The unicorn tried again, but the fairy only crossed her arms, giving a smile.

“Blasted winged usurper, I would have power over you now.” The unicorn looked around. “This place will be protected now. I have lost my opportunity. You have won this time winged one, but my beauty will win another.”

Roween said nothing as the unicorn trotted away. It only looked back for a moment. “Enchant all you want, my fairy friend, I will have power from that ring in time. not all creatures of the forest can resist me.”

As the unicorn disappeared into the forest, Roween joined the others waiting nearby. She told them that there would be another ring around this place, never allowing that conceited creature to have the apples. They all agreed.

“but what of the others? That creature can control many more now that it has more magic.” Bastia said.

Roween, though, didn’t have an answer. She knew as the others did, that unicorns do not fear other magic creatures. They would always find a way to control them. She told them that even humans could be controlled for a short while, but she knew of no other beings that could resist a unicorn’s gaze. The fairy floated nearby as they all thought, then Fastel sighed, “too bad those hunting the creature could not be trusted.”

The fairy turned to look at the nixie, her eyes glowing with a spark of inspiration, “They are not here now, but maybe we’ll see. I have an idea how. Leave it to this fairy.”

With concerned gazes but the others looked to Roween, her smile followed by, “I have friends, and battles they’ve won. Please leave it to me. They’ll get things done.”

Roween then turned and flew in a larger circle around the trees and fairy circle, her magic glowing all around as the light of day started to fade. The faint illumination was now filling the forest with subtle green and white. Finally, she stopped hovering near a tree, her words heard only by those who could hear the magic.