Free the Faerie
The black horse nods, relief washing over her graceful features.
This is part of a Choose Your Own Adventure story, Through the Black Door. Go back to the first chapter. Or return to the previous chapter. Check out the chapter guide.
You take one look at the mare’s determined eyes. “Yes, I’ll rescue your son.”
The black horse nods, relief washing over her graceful features. Even the dark forest nearby seems to look less threatening and more benign.
“Before I start,” you ask hesitantly, “has your son done anything wrong that got him captured in the first place? And why aren’t you able to save him yourself?”
The mare watches you with impatience. “He’s still very young and made some mistakes along the way. But being held against his will won’t help him at all. It would only teach him fear and eventually resentment. He needs to be free and guided with a kind hand to the good path again. I can’t help him myself because he’s surrounded by iron.”
You let out a cold breath. Faeries are weakened and sometimes killed by iron. It’s truly too cruel a method to contain a child. Goodness knows that you aren’t a moral exemplar yourself.
So you promise the mare that you will be back with her son soon. But you shudder to think about what, or who, is guarding the poor colt.
When you finally reach the church up the hill, a vivid blue light shines at the window. A foal butts his muzzle against the glass. Shi Lei’s son.
You’re not sure what crimes he might have committed. And faeries would have a different view of what counts as a crime, compared to human definitions.
Still, your heart is soft and you want to help him.
The church’s door is locked as you expected, but you have excellent lock-picking skills. In a moment, the door creaks open.
The hall is dimly lit and the church is like a haunted castle.
You hear the sound of hooves to the right, so you hurry to that room and place your hand on the doorknob.
“I wouldn’t open that if I were you,” a voice calls out.
Startled, you spin around and see a mysterious old woman wrapped in a purple shawl. Her eyes are stern and you freeze in terror; she looks so much like a wraith. Then you catch sight of an amulet around her neck.
You gasp. “Who — who are you to Asha Bluebell? That’s her amulet.”
The old woman presses her lips into a hard line. “A certain lady gave it to me a couple of centuries ago. But she disappeared into the land of faerie and left me all alone.”
You gape and stare at her up and down. “What — I can’t believe it. How can you be Asha?” Dread coils in your stomach.
The old woman, Asha, curls up her lips. “Don’t worry, dear. I might be bitter and angry, but I would never hurt you. Not all of us are that vengeful.”
All of this is too much for you to take in. You have so many questions and have only just regained these memories a short while ago. And the foal…
“Asha, I’m genuinely sorry that I left without telling you. The faerie swore me to secrecy and I was naïve enough to believe that she would really help us. I had no idea that she would trap me inside faerie for that long. And what about you? What — ”
Asha sighs. “I may not be so young and beautiful anymore, but I’m still the same person. Your faerie found me and said I could go with you, to an era that would be friendly towards folks who love those of the same gender.
“But what she didn’t tell me, was that she would let me out of faerie too early. She told me that I had to wait for you to come out. But I didn’t think that I would have to wait fifty-two years!” Her fists clench.
The blue faerie, Shi Lei, has fooled both of you. You are angry too, but you are more sad than furious. But still, you’re not sure if the faerie’s son needs to suffer for his mother’s deeds. You tighten your grip on the doorknob, and Asha sees. She growls. “I said, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
You glower at her. “Is that a warning? He’s just a child. No matter what his mother has done, or even what he himself has done, the colt is still so young. He doesn’t deserve to be imprisoned and surrounded by iron too. Why don’t we let him out, and I can teach him to be good and kind.”
Asha’s lips curl up again and this time it was clearly a malevolent smile. “You’re being ridiculous, Isabelle. Why would the faerie let you teach her son? Faeries are all alike. They’re selfish and treacherous. We can’t let this dangerous creature out, even if he’s still a foal.”
You frown. “Are you really concerned about keeping a dangerous creature away from humanity? Or do you just want to imprison him to get back at the black mare?”
Asha’s eyes narrow. “You have no idea what you’re getting into. I don’t know where you were all these years, but you’re clearly ignorant of what these faeries have grown capable of. Turn back now unless you want to fight me.”
