Chapter III ~ Mondfall Wood

 Mondfall Wood

Cassandra had found herself in a serious conundrum~ A pair of pure porcelain wings at her sides, with her legs beneath her in the water. Feeling extraordinarily taller, however her throat felt bent, long and sore… so she wanted to rest it down, either on a wing or on her back. White feathers covered her from her head to her tail… and all around she felt as though she was sinking deep into the lake. Her very skin still burned as if she had needles flung into her veins that sharpened with every move she made… 

She managed though, to get to the bank, where those brave little men waited for her. They grieved with her, the swan maidens followed close, protectively, and silently… After all they had tried to do for her, they had failed once again just as they had with Queen Snow White once. However, on that hard morning, they made a vow… She held onto the memory of her father, who was the very first to make one of these vows, so very long ago… What is the irony there?

“We-we need to get them away from here. To-to somewhere where they can feel safe. We gotta leave, men…” Doc advised, through his tears.

“Easier said than done,” Grumpy mumbled. “‘Long with that, this curse must have a weakness in some way… but knowing her, that witch won’t be much help.”

“Cas trusts us, right now, even though we failed her…” Happy brokenly said, stroking one of the swan’s wings.

“I’ll tell ya what we’ll do~ remember what the Fairy said.” Doc continued. 

Two long years had gone by~ 

Mondfall Forest was the only place they knew, under guard of the Seven Men, the Swan Maidens came upon this one lake that would hide them well from further evil individuals. Warlocks and with the likeness of Grimhilde~ and to whatever that Black Swan was~ It could have been a spell or a guise of some kind conjured up by the Queen… 

There was no one to blame for this simply because such cruelty was never warranted… and the brave Dwarfs of the Seventh Hill only gave their best efforts at protecting whom they believed was the last maiden in their land. One who was stolen away from her home as they were told, through the means of a magic mirror- or rather, her mirror was enchanted to become a door. 

There was no one to blame for this simply because such cruelty was never warranted… and the brave Dwarfs of the Seventh only gave their best efforts at protecting whom they believed was the last maiden. One who was stolen away from her home as they were told, through the means of a magic mirror- or rather, her mirror was enchanted to become a door.  Lo and behold, she was stolen away…

The Seven kept guard over Mondfall, keeping secret vigil over the precious flock that became virtuous young women by the light of the moon upon the lake. As to why it had to be that way, for their chances only to happen only so short of time, there was definitely nasty intent other than the fact that they were to be kept to get their youth stolen. The brave dwarfs were not going to hang around watching anymore… Happy and Grumpy both volunteered to go and seek any possible way for the spell to be broken~ that dark swan never appeared again.

Thus far the poor women were trapped as legendary swan maidens of folklore… This was something Casey never truly put thought on during her day to day life, until the memory of that one solitary night came to mind - She was chosen to break a spell, when she barely would talk. Becoming waterfowl was never on her list of struggles to endure after that— it was never at this level of emotional and physical intensity, such as the sight of her first hero lying on the floor, aglow with emerald… That first transformation was equivalent to having to see that, over and over again. At this rate each change meant focus, either back to a swan or back to her human self~ with the catch being if she wanted her human self for only a few hours every night, she had to be on the lake to change. It was the same for the rest of the maidens… 

Being a swan was not what many assumed it would be~ creatures of grace and beauty and symbols of exactly that. The wings were another matter, serving as her arms and often needed for gestures, were practically useless unless she could fly. Alas, she could not… Her head often hurt for hours after each change and she felt deeply depressed and tired as a result. Often as a bird, she would sleep to make up for the nights. It was constant pain all made to look beautiful on the outside… This was a true curse, in every single meaning of the word.

Those Dwarfs never once abandoned them in this~ rather, they took them all away, guiding them to a special place that was hidden. It proved to be a long way, however it was worth it in the end.

Mondfall Wood was a beyond beautiful place that could not compare to any place on earth. 

Ever since the first transformation of the final maiden they tried so desperately to save, the brave Seven took and guided away the Swans. They had to as a score of evil doers were slowly taking over the Magic Kingdom— it simply was not just Germania under an unnatural rule. 

The girls who had their youth stolen were left for dead in Grimhilde’s dungeons, while the ones still alive were cursed to be swan maidens… The requirement for the blood gift was that it had to be willingly done so for it to be gifted… Alas, several were not so willing, which included the newly acquainted Cassandra. The unwilling were cursed and only during the eves when they could embrace their humanity, were asked so again. Either remain a Swan bound to the moonlight on the lakes or meet their demise… Cassandra’s new flock chose the latter, and all this was explained to her as she met each of them.

Ida was the first swan she had met who had helped her to escape the Queen’s tower. She was the youngest~ She was a mere milk maid in the nearest village and was the Queen’s last capture.

There was Eleonor. A stern, black maned lass, was often rebuked as a witch for her gift in alchemy. Her wing tips were dipped in black.

Next was Mary. A young sister of four, lost from her family of bakers. She is blue eyed and and loved to fawn over small animals.

Antoinette, the daughter of a nobleman, red hair and golden eyes. It is believed she had been murdered…

Caroll Anne, was learning the trade of a sailman, never achieved that dream, only to float on a lake as a swan. 

Dorothea, was a girl who was mute and timid however she was gifted in ways of intuition. She was an orphan on the streets.

Lastly, there was herself… Cassandra, someone from some other age, another realm, trying to make do with what she had there~ teaching small children. She was stolen from her home, just like all of them. 

In these new lands, new paths and new forests, a place guarded by the Dwarfs, Casey found new ways of making new dresses for short nights. She explored with the other maidens in hopes of seeing hight above Mondfall; their new beautiful prison, almost. Mondfall homed around a great crystalline lake… a lake housed by great snow covered mountains. Across was a river opening that seemed to be beneath an almost penannular shaped mountain. There was a vista made of stone where the lake met the bank of Mondfall where they could make due as themselves after being a flock during the daylight hours. Casey stood over on the terrace, only to stare across this grand lake that was graced by a mighty bright and nearly full moon. Her thoughts ran to the Dwarfs, although she seldom saw them lately… which saddened her. She couldn’t imagine the guilt…

“This is how you spend your only hours back to normal, by gawking at the one thing that limiting us…” spoke a spicy voice behind her. Eleonor was behind her, coming from the path and onto the terrace with her. Casey habbitually played with her hair as she turned to the other.

“Eleonor…”

“What are you doing here, ‘Ette…?” the stern one asked, after touching her hand. “You’ve been this frigid since Germania.”

“In a world like mine, we have nothing like this.” Casey began. “People never believed such things unless it happened to them… Being turned into animals, biting poison apples, and glowing orbs…”

“… at least we’re safe from that witch.” Eleonor reasoned.

“… Yes, away. For now” Casey reasoned, soon having the courage to look at her. “… I have a vivid memory, Eleonor.”

“Knowing you, it might be a good one. Come~ Mary made a stew.” Eleonor encouraged her, knowing deeply of how twisted Casey was still feeling, even after these couple of years.

Within the safety of one of the glens, there were the five other maidens, dressed in plain gowns, with their hair often let loose over their shoulders. This was the only meal they would often have before the morning would again come to haunt them. The forest was illuminated fondly by these quartz stones that would glow only at night which granted them a blessing during their despondent hours… Casey joined them, taking a white cloak and throwing it over her shoulders. It was among one of the great gifts found there when they arrived over the great river. Casey truly did not have the stomach for eating, but only had a heart for dreaming and hoping on… She was holding onto Richard… even after all this time, but something felt off.

“I dearly hope it suits you.” Mary said as she handed Casey a wooden bowl. 

“Thank you so, Mary… This makes the night better.” she remarked before taking a sip. 

“A bit dry, eh Ette?” Eleonor snarked, but she kept drinking her own.

“Oh shush, darkwing — just be glad it’s edible…” Caroll spat. Even Dorothea enjoyed herself via a chuckle for the moment. Even Casey, to whom they all called Odette at times, sometimes just ‘Ette, concerning the wealth she had at her old home, on account that she complained too much. Ever since that tease, poor Casey just laughed it off, even though the suspiciously ironic name hurt her feelings quite a little. Perhaps, before all this, she was already in the role of a white swan but never quite realized it. Too pure and too stubborn to change for the likes of others… living as a virgin thus far, her life was just as uneventful, as desired after her time as an orphan. Before Richard’s touch on her life. Just floating along a flat plane with no aim at all, except to earn for herself and to reassure the man who gave her everything. Away from closets and flannels… While this garden they were given was beautiful though.

“So… You supposedly have someone back where you hail from…” Mary remarked as they passed the stew along, with a single bowl.

“Supposedly?” Casey looked at her, slightly aghast. “… I do have someone back there. I cannot think on him now knowing how long its been… His heart must be so broken.”

“What is his name?”

“Richard. Rayan…” Casey answered, sullenly. “He did everything he could for me,” she continued as she fiddled with her hem. “… one thing I know about him is that he has a worry stone that he rubs in his hand whenever his mind is working too fast. He was cursed too once… and I could tell it never left him… We tried to keep the mirrors out, but it didn’t matter… I am probably never going to see him again…”

As it was for him, it also was hard to think about the Dwarfs~ because it was as if they disappeared just the same as Richard had. Casey slowly allowed tears to fall when it all truly hit her, and she let out a hitched sob. Ida’s eyes welled up with hers before she placed her hand to her shoulder. Casey nodded at this and decided to try and move onward. However they were close beyond this one gate that was kept locked so that no evil could enter. There was sort of resentment towards the Fairy since then… as she never appeared again. Yet there was always a feeling about them that they were all being observed. There were a few of her words she remembered though, after so long… To endure through, because she would soon learn of her own magic, and to keep this flock with her. That meant that something else was going on… Remaining bound to moonlight on water was not going to help them. Perhaps this forest held more secrets because those snowy mountains far beyond their lake looked sharply familiar. 

Ida was often accompanying her through long days, and when the morning came… it was time for another hopeful search over the banks for the Dwarfs. Their clothes stayed with them as they would change into swans… Casey swam with her own and made it clear that she wished to be alone, which was not the safest option. However, even on a day like this, something was different about it.

On the one end of the lake, she spotted Grumpy taking a bucket to the water and taking some. She had not seen him for a whole year and kicked quick to see him. His eyes went as wide as moons when he saw her… to him, it was a white swan with a diamond at her breast, peacefully floating close. 

“Lass? I-is that ya?” he gasped and nearly tripped down. “… c’me here, girl.”

She did, sadly nibbling at the water near his hand. He got the chance to pat her head as she swam around him. Her gentle behavior broke his heart in a way because he felt extraordinarily guilty himself. “… been awhile. Looks like y’ve been carin’ yerself well. Y’feelin’ a’ight? Heh? Good… We’ve been… we’ve watchin’ around.”

“I knew you never left.” Casey really wanted to speak out but she couldn’t. “The others didn’t believe me…but you’re still here.”

Grumpy felt his eyes begin to sting and had to shake it off. “Ah! Curses, woman… We’re on the search. Any way to get this off of all of ya. Somehow, someway. Ah-if only y’can talk…”

“Would you stay with me? Please…”

Her entire frame appeared to be shrinking as she bent her neck so low upon her body. She was blessed to never be truly alone. Grumpy may had been the toughest out of all the Dwarfs but this had to be among the hardest for him to handle, more than ever. At least the lass was well alive rather than cursed to sleep for an entire year, but the severity here was just as high. 

“I never thought I’d become a part of a fairytale. It couldn’t get more ironic than this. I do not know why this had to happen, but I hate to see you so sad. I am no princess, no one great… This is all due to someone’s sickness, or even beyond that… I missed you…”

“y’found her, Grumpy…” Happy voice came soon enough.

“She came t’me, rather.” Grumpy’s tone was respectfully gentle. “Alone. Course y’come to me alone… Where the other maids?”

Casey arched her wings and looked down the bank behind her before softly swimming closer to them. She was soon followed by a fellow swan. One with a gruffer look in her eye. Deep black flashed up at the two when she arched her wings just the same.

“There’s one of ‘em. What a pattern, that is.”

“That has to be Eleon’r.” Grumpy huffed when she hissed at him, warningly. Also observing her nipping at Casey’s tail…

“So these are the fools you’ve been looking for,” Casey understood her as she swam about the bank, on the look out. “I am warning you, this is not safe to do. You should always stay close to us.”

“I wasn’t going to stay far.” Casey reasoned with a soft whistle. “Remember I told you. They are my friends.”

“No matter, and losing you to the dire swan? Whoever she, he, it may be…? Not on this life.”

“She’s the protector, I can tell…” Happy remarked, admiring. Eleonor rubbed her head along her wing, to preen, although silently on edge for the two of them.

“Heh! Women,”

“Men.” Eleonor hissed in return but kept watch. 

“They are not up to anything, I promise you.” Casey tried to reason with her and looked hopefully at the two Dwarfs. “Is there any discovery, any hope for us? There has to be a reason why we did not see you for months…”

“We’ve been collectin’ for weeks, Grumpy.” Happy mentioned something, something important. “… for our ladies, they might open up to something. Like that diamond she wears…”

“More talk about that fae an’ I’ll pick y’to a tree!” Grumpy growled. “Two years of this and we’ve never come close to findin’ them all.”

Casey was listening close.

“If fate’s in our favor, she might come back.” Happy hoped. “… if we have any idea about this place. There is something off about those falls. Yonder Ivory gate.”

“The Blue Fairy? After so long, why would she ever come back…?” Casey heard Eleonor speak her mind, rightfully angry. “Too proud of a druid herself to do anything about it. So now look at you and me. Stuck by the moon, on a lake, for the rest of our days!”

“Eleonor, calm down~” Casey tried to speak to her. Eleonor starkly glared back at her before giving her wings a flap.

“Oh? Shall I?” the snarky come back before she chose to swim away from the conversation entirely.

Casey had to keep herself focus to try and listen in on what they were on, perhaps there was a far better plan than just waiting here. “There is a chance for us to find her?”

“There is one way to find out. She might send us a message.”

Next Chapter ~>