Author's Notes: Hello Everyone! This is Goldberry talking and I am happy to
announce the first posting of a work done by Happily Ever After, an author
group composed of myself, KMF, and Iris Anthe. We have all had much
experience in writing GW fics and we decided to collaborate on a work based
largely in fairytale. The story "The Maids of Silva" is derived from the
tale "Snow-white and Rose-red" by Grimm. If you are already familiar with
the tale, I am glad to say that there are still some surprises for you.
After all, we can't help wanting to mess with your minds. The first chapter
is written by me, the next is by KMF, after which comes Iris' chapter, and
so it goes until the end. After this story is finished, Happily Ever After
will continue to adapt fairytales for fandom so if you have any suggestions
or comments, feel free to email us or visit our webpage to learn exactly
how and where we get our ideas. Other than that, enjoy the story and
reviews are very welcome! ^_~
The Maids of Silva By Happily Ever After
Rating: PG13
Chapter One By Goldberry
The west wind brushed through the meadow grass like unseen fingers bending the blades with a light caress before kissing the ends of her long hair and making her laugh, full of joy. The sun was bright and daring, its rays touching wispy clouds as they sped along. Sparks of it caught in her gold hair, illuminating her fair skin with a glow that warmed her. The morning had grown lovely despite the nearing of winter; the last vestiges of fall clinging to world full of reds and browns and oranges. It was almost as if spring had come again and she had set out from cottage in the glen with the goal of enjoying as much of it as possible.
Twirling gaily, her long pale skirts whirling in a graceful arc, the maiden raised the wooden flute to her lips and began to play again, music notes floating in the air around her before being caught in the breeze. The song rose and fell with her mood, echoing within the trees as she neared the beginning of the forest. Bare feet padded lightly over upturned roots and moss-covered rocks and long tree limbs bent to touch her hair as she passed, still playing.
The wood was an old one, having lived before the beginning of time, its trees full of wisdom and ancient songs. The very air of the forest was magical and it was here that she felt most at home, dancing and playing in and out of shafts of golden sunlight that peeked through the canopy. Glittering dust motes flickered as she watched with clear blue-green eyes, her expression full of serenity as beautiful notes continued to drip from her fingers. Everything had stopped, breathless at her song, and when finally it whispered to a halt there was a great sigh as the earth itself mourned the passing of her music.
She smiled whimsically and knelt at the base of a large elm, laying her flute in her lap as she looked upwards wondering always why the trees in this forest never lost their leaves. She hummed a few notes
under her breath and leaned back against the trunk of the old tree, content for the moment to pause and listen. She liked this time away from the cottage with only the solitude of the wood to keep her
company. She couldn't stay long of course, she would be missed, but it filled her heart with peace to come there and breathe in the magic. This place was different than all the others.
It suited her perfectly.
She had always been the quiet one. Innocent and kind and gentle as sun on new leaves. When she did speak, her voice was demure and hauntingly beautiful and no one who heard it could resist her. Her smile could brighten a room and drive away thunderclouds and her charm was that of something precious who knew not its own worth but was happy nonetheless. It was why the trees and animals loved her. She did not know her own power.
Even as she sat there a doe appeared, lifting its graceful head to blink at her with wide golden brown eyes. She smiled and lifted a slender hand, fingers outstretched as the doe touched her palm briefly with its soft nose. The young maiden then slowly lifted her flute and began to play a soft, lilting ballad that she had known since childhood. The doe stood very still, unafraid and curious. Birds, hearing their own language, alighted on branches nearby to listen and harmonize. Unfortunately, the delicate peace was broken by a voice raised in laughing joy.
"Relena!" The doe lifted its head, ears swivelling as it caught the sound. "Relena, where are you?"
The young maid lowered her flute and laughed out loud, raising her own voice in answer. "I am here, Hilde!"
Hilde appeared through the trees, hurrying gracefully, dark skirts swinging around her ankles. Relena smiled brightly at seeing her, for no one was more energetic than her sister. Hilde was small and slender, with short raven hair threaded with a loose crown of newly plucked rosebuds. She was the more wild of the two sisters, forever running through the fields barefoot and swimming in nothing but her shift in the river. More often than not Relena also found herself doing these things, caught up in the ever-flowing aura and energy that radiated from Hilde like a tempest wind. Even as no one could resist the innocence in Relena's voice, they could not resist Hilde's whirlwind presence either. And of course, when together, the sisters were unstoppable, as their dear guardian knew quite well.
"Relena!" Hilde called, her pixie-like face full of laughter, "What are you doing here? And without me!" Without waiting for an answer, Hilde bent down and pulled on her sister's hand. "Oh well, come on Relena! If we don't hurry, we'll never find him."
Relena allowed herself to be pulled, gripping her flute in one hand, a pensive look on her face. "But, Hilde, you know he only appears when he wishes. We might look all day and never get a glimpse of him. Besides, I promised Uncle I would finish the laundry this afternoon."
Hilde snorted, dark curls swaying as she turned her head. "Oh don't worry [, remove] Relena, I'll get you back in time for that." She suddenly stopped and tilted her head at her sister. "You do want to see him again, don't you?"
Relena blinked. "Of course, but-"
Hilde smiled and hauled Relena after her. "Well then, let's get moving!"
The two girls moved through the forest lightly, Hilde laughing playfully while Relena followed smiling. Golden swirls of sunlight lit their way as creatures of the wood watched them, wondering at their lack of fear. For indeed, the two girls had never experienced grief or fear or hatred, so separated from the rest of the world were they. Their universe was the cottage, the woods, the river, and the fields of endless flowers. They knew nothing of the biting power of words or the aching feeling of simple loneliness. They had always had each other and they saw only good, for they had never been exposed to anything else. Their goodness, of course, made them strong but there can be no good without evil, no light without dark. It was a lesson still to be learned.
For the both of them.
Abruptly, as the girls neared a tall line of thorny bushes, the air tightened in front of them and rippled like a raindrop dripping into a pool. The air glittered silver and white and a form coalesced, blinding at first before the radiance dimmed and a familiar figure could be seen, a grim look on his ethereal face.
"Pray, go no farther, maidens of Silva. Beyond lies only shadows."
Quatre stood before them; gentle and fierce, proud and humble. His beautiful face full of light and magic and a wisdom beyond ages. Bright blue eyes regarded them carefully behind locks of pale blonde hair, like moonlight through glass, full of mysteries. He looked very much like an ordinary man, if perhaps a regal one, through Relena and Hilde knew him for what he was. Fairy and guardian of the wood, their dearest friend and protector for as long as they could remember. He appeared with the west wind usually, sometimes bearing gifts from realms unseen, sometimes staying only long enough to see that they were both well before disappearing once again. Never before had they actually gone looking for him and Relena realized finally that their might have been reasons for them not to.
"Quatre!" Hilde cried, joyful and oblivious, "We found you!"
And such was the strength of her happiness that Quatre smiled, relaxing into the friend they knew so well. He motioned to them both and they ran forward, throwing their arms around him in a deep hug.
"We missed you, Quatre! Where have you been? We haven't seen you since the leaves began to fall around the cottage," Hilde said, when they had released him.
Quatre nodded. "There is much happening in the world," His gave lifted to the changeless trees of the forest. "I fear it will even reach this sacred place one day."
Relena shifted uncomfortably. "Are you sad, Quatre?"
The fairy glanced at her, smiling slightly. "Nay, dear one, I am not sad. Change comes to everyone, even to you one day."
Hilde shook her head. "I don't want to change. I want everything to stay as it is," She looked entreatingly at Quatre. "Surely you can make it so, Quatre, can't you?"
"Even if I had the power, I would not. Would you have it be autumn forever?"
Hilde grinned. "I would have it be spring."
"I can see you two are in fine moods this morning but I perceive that the hour grows late. You should be heading back, your uncle will be looking for you."
Relena clutched her flute against her skirts, still feeling that something was wrong but unfamiliar with how to fix it. Sensing this, Quatre touched her cheek gently.
"Worry not, snow-white maiden, the time will come when you will understand what to do. Until then, sing and be merry and don't let yonder lady of the rosebuds lead you astray." Hilde wrinkled her nose in mock affront and Quatre kissed her swiftly on the nose. "Hurry home now and do not wander this way again. Danger abides behind the thorns." And with a twinkling of light and sound he was gone, leaving them to pick their way through the trees into the realm of reality [and] back to the cottage where their Uncle awaited them, their voices rising in greeting like the twining of harmony and melody.
And not far away, coming ever closer, change carved a path through the world bringing with it beginnings and endings, darkness and light, snow and roses.
TBC
Next chapter to be written by KMF.
The Maids of Silva By Happily Ever After
Rating: PG13
Chapter One By Goldberry
The west wind brushed through the meadow grass like unseen fingers bending the blades with a light caress before kissing the ends of her long hair and making her laugh, full of joy. The sun was bright and daring, its rays touching wispy clouds as they sped along. Sparks of it caught in her gold hair, illuminating her fair skin with a glow that warmed her. The morning had grown lovely despite the nearing of winter; the last vestiges of fall clinging to world full of reds and browns and oranges. It was almost as if spring had come again and she had set out from cottage in the glen with the goal of enjoying as much of it as possible.
Twirling gaily, her long pale skirts whirling in a graceful arc, the maiden raised the wooden flute to her lips and began to play again, music notes floating in the air around her before being caught in the breeze. The song rose and fell with her mood, echoing within the trees as she neared the beginning of the forest. Bare feet padded lightly over upturned roots and moss-covered rocks and long tree limbs bent to touch her hair as she passed, still playing.
The wood was an old one, having lived before the beginning of time, its trees full of wisdom and ancient songs. The very air of the forest was magical and it was here that she felt most at home, dancing and playing in and out of shafts of golden sunlight that peeked through the canopy. Glittering dust motes flickered as she watched with clear blue-green eyes, her expression full of serenity as beautiful notes continued to drip from her fingers. Everything had stopped, breathless at her song, and when finally it whispered to a halt there was a great sigh as the earth itself mourned the passing of her music.
She smiled whimsically and knelt at the base of a large elm, laying her flute in her lap as she looked upwards wondering always why the trees in this forest never lost their leaves. She hummed a few notes
under her breath and leaned back against the trunk of the old tree, content for the moment to pause and listen. She liked this time away from the cottage with only the solitude of the wood to keep her
company. She couldn't stay long of course, she would be missed, but it filled her heart with peace to come there and breathe in the magic. This place was different than all the others.
It suited her perfectly.
She had always been the quiet one. Innocent and kind and gentle as sun on new leaves. When she did speak, her voice was demure and hauntingly beautiful and no one who heard it could resist her. Her smile could brighten a room and drive away thunderclouds and her charm was that of something precious who knew not its own worth but was happy nonetheless. It was why the trees and animals loved her. She did not know her own power.
Even as she sat there a doe appeared, lifting its graceful head to blink at her with wide golden brown eyes. She smiled and lifted a slender hand, fingers outstretched as the doe touched her palm briefly with its soft nose. The young maiden then slowly lifted her flute and began to play a soft, lilting ballad that she had known since childhood. The doe stood very still, unafraid and curious. Birds, hearing their own language, alighted on branches nearby to listen and harmonize. Unfortunately, the delicate peace was broken by a voice raised in laughing joy.
"Relena!" The doe lifted its head, ears swivelling as it caught the sound. "Relena, where are you?"
The young maid lowered her flute and laughed out loud, raising her own voice in answer. "I am here, Hilde!"
Hilde appeared through the trees, hurrying gracefully, dark skirts swinging around her ankles. Relena smiled brightly at seeing her, for no one was more energetic than her sister. Hilde was small and slender, with short raven hair threaded with a loose crown of newly plucked rosebuds. She was the more wild of the two sisters, forever running through the fields barefoot and swimming in nothing but her shift in the river. More often than not Relena also found herself doing these things, caught up in the ever-flowing aura and energy that radiated from Hilde like a tempest wind. Even as no one could resist the innocence in Relena's voice, they could not resist Hilde's whirlwind presence either. And of course, when together, the sisters were unstoppable, as their dear guardian knew quite well.
"Relena!" Hilde called, her pixie-like face full of laughter, "What are you doing here? And without me!" Without waiting for an answer, Hilde bent down and pulled on her sister's hand. "Oh well, come on Relena! If we don't hurry, we'll never find him."
Relena allowed herself to be pulled, gripping her flute in one hand, a pensive look on her face. "But, Hilde, you know he only appears when he wishes. We might look all day and never get a glimpse of him. Besides, I promised Uncle I would finish the laundry this afternoon."
Hilde snorted, dark curls swaying as she turned her head. "Oh don't worry [, remove] Relena, I'll get you back in time for that." She suddenly stopped and tilted her head at her sister. "You do want to see him again, don't you?"
Relena blinked. "Of course, but-"
Hilde smiled and hauled Relena after her. "Well then, let's get moving!"
The two girls moved through the forest lightly, Hilde laughing playfully while Relena followed smiling. Golden swirls of sunlight lit their way as creatures of the wood watched them, wondering at their lack of fear. For indeed, the two girls had never experienced grief or fear or hatred, so separated from the rest of the world were they. Their universe was the cottage, the woods, the river, and the fields of endless flowers. They knew nothing of the biting power of words or the aching feeling of simple loneliness. They had always had each other and they saw only good, for they had never been exposed to anything else. Their goodness, of course, made them strong but there can be no good without evil, no light without dark. It was a lesson still to be learned.
For the both of them.
Abruptly, as the girls neared a tall line of thorny bushes, the air tightened in front of them and rippled like a raindrop dripping into a pool. The air glittered silver and white and a form coalesced, blinding at first before the radiance dimmed and a familiar figure could be seen, a grim look on his ethereal face.
"Pray, go no farther, maidens of Silva. Beyond lies only shadows."
Quatre stood before them; gentle and fierce, proud and humble. His beautiful face full of light and magic and a wisdom beyond ages. Bright blue eyes regarded them carefully behind locks of pale blonde hair, like moonlight through glass, full of mysteries. He looked very much like an ordinary man, if perhaps a regal one, through Relena and Hilde knew him for what he was. Fairy and guardian of the wood, their dearest friend and protector for as long as they could remember. He appeared with the west wind usually, sometimes bearing gifts from realms unseen, sometimes staying only long enough to see that they were both well before disappearing once again. Never before had they actually gone looking for him and Relena realized finally that their might have been reasons for them not to.
"Quatre!" Hilde cried, joyful and oblivious, "We found you!"
And such was the strength of her happiness that Quatre smiled, relaxing into the friend they knew so well. He motioned to them both and they ran forward, throwing their arms around him in a deep hug.
"We missed you, Quatre! Where have you been? We haven't seen you since the leaves began to fall around the cottage," Hilde said, when they had released him.
Quatre nodded. "There is much happening in the world," His gave lifted to the changeless trees of the forest. "I fear it will even reach this sacred place one day."
Relena shifted uncomfortably. "Are you sad, Quatre?"
The fairy glanced at her, smiling slightly. "Nay, dear one, I am not sad. Change comes to everyone, even to you one day."
Hilde shook her head. "I don't want to change. I want everything to stay as it is," She looked entreatingly at Quatre. "Surely you can make it so, Quatre, can't you?"
"Even if I had the power, I would not. Would you have it be autumn forever?"
Hilde grinned. "I would have it be spring."
"I can see you two are in fine moods this morning but I perceive that the hour grows late. You should be heading back, your uncle will be looking for you."
Relena clutched her flute against her skirts, still feeling that something was wrong but unfamiliar with how to fix it. Sensing this, Quatre touched her cheek gently.
"Worry not, snow-white maiden, the time will come when you will understand what to do. Until then, sing and be merry and don't let yonder lady of the rosebuds lead you astray." Hilde wrinkled her nose in mock affront and Quatre kissed her swiftly on the nose. "Hurry home now and do not wander this way again. Danger abides behind the thorns." And with a twinkling of light and sound he was gone, leaving them to pick their way through the trees into the realm of reality [and] back to the cottage where their Uncle awaited them, their voices rising in greeting like the twining of harmony and melody.
And not far away, coming ever closer, change carved a path through the world bringing with it beginnings and endings, darkness and light, snow and roses.
TBC
Next chapter to be written by KMF.