Dark Fairy Queen Writerly Bridal Shower

Wings – Eric Martell

eBook Yes

1.

Ever since she’d concealed her wings, the world had grown dim. She was used to the dark – where she came from, the dark pulsed with life. But this was different. This was shadow.

2.

It was almost a shock when she found herself alone. The room where she had gotten dressed and veiled was now a sanctuary, the only quiet room in the building. Surrounded by mirrors, she thought once more about how beautiful her wings would have looked with her dress, her feathers refracting rainbows around her, rainbows which would reflect off the mother-of-pearl beadwork and dazzle everyone who saw her…

But there was no point thinking like that anymore. She loved her wings, that much was true, but not as much as she loved him.

3.

The trip to Earth wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a quick trip to go do some human-watching and get away from home for a bit. But nobody had told her just how Kentucky bourbon would affect her, and with her wings hidden discreetly beneath a cute little sweater, she had trouble keeping her balance.

Trouble, hell. She tripped over everything – tables, chairs, seams in the tile, and even a pesky breeze that had zigged just when she’d zagged. That last one was nearly a disaster, as she’d been just about to go arse over teakettle into a quite serious-looking mudpuddle when he’d reached out to catch her.

Even though his plan had gone somewhat astray – that is, unless you assumed that he was just using her as leverage to throw himself into that puddle – as she watched him arc through the air to the inevitably messy conclusion, she was well and instantly smitten.

Telling him that she was from out of town was easy, finding reasons to travel to Earth with increasing frequency without letting anyone from home know what was up was much more difficult. That everyone already knew (her friends gossiped endlessly about the man they’d seen go puddle-diving in a fetchingly klutzy demonstration of mis-timed chivalry), and approved heartily (fairies were notorious romantics) was not a possibility that she’d really entertained. But once he’d offered her a ring, and she’d said yes, their support had been warm and immediate.

So here she was, deeply in love, but wingless, living in what felt like permanent shadow.

4.

The room was beautiful, covered in roses, lilies, and just a hint of pixie dust. Her heart leapt as she looked out over her friends and family from two worlds, gathered together to help proclaim their love. Everything after that was a blur, until he took her hands in his and started his vows.

“I’ve known I was going to marry you since I first saw you. But I’ve known something else for just as long. As I was falling into that puddle, you rose into the air, just a bit, and behind you were spread the wings of what I thought at first were an angel. I know that you’ve kept them hidden ever since. And I know that you would do so for the rest of our lives together. And knowing that you would give up a part of yourself for me – for us – is the most profound gesture of love I could imagine.

“But I don’t want that for you. I want you to have your wings. I would never be able to live with myself knowing that you had lost such an essential part of yourself.”

He released her hands and stepped back, shrugging his jacket from his shoulders.

“The day after you agreed to be my wife, I had visitors. Your parents came to tell me about what kind of family I would be joining. They knew then what I know now, and they had a solution.”

As he spoke, from behind his back unfurled a set of fairy wings, black woven with platinum, as wondrous as the eyes she’d gazed into on so many nights. “I love you, my dark fairy. Please, show us. Show us all how beautiful you really are.”

She gaped at him, and turned to see her parents, their wings out, her mother openly weeping. Her love floated over to her and took her hands once more. “It’s time.”

5.

She kissed him once, and then effortlessly drew her wings from their hiding place. The shadow faded, gone forever. Everything glowed, but none brighter than the fairy who’d married the human.

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I wish you the best of luck, Anna and Michael. May you face life’s challenges together, knowing that no matter where you go or what you do, you will never be alone and will always be loved.