The Veil Lifted - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Celuien · 11-14-2006, 11:15 AM

The evening had flown in streams of children knocking at Becca's door. All had been given candy in handfuls. Chocolates and caramels and butterscotch. And then there were a few who were given an extra gift of one of the glistening white cupcakes. A little girl with a gentle smile and a soft light in her blue eyes. A dark haired boy with a big grin and merry laugh. A sad faced child dressed as Cinderella. And many others.

Only three cupcakes remained, including the most important of the set, though Becca didn't know which held the prize.

"I didn't make them, you know," she whispered to Midnight. "He did, on my last trip. And he put the star into the batter. I don't know which has the star. But he said I could choose who will have it next. And I don't think I chose anyone who has been here so far."

Midnight's tail swished.

"It would be easier if I knew the children, the way they did it in the old days at the feast. But I don't know most of them. I don't know if they'd understand. Faerie is special. Everyone who gets a cupcake tonight will know that, at least for a while. But the one who gets the star has to truly understand."

There was another knock at the door. Becca recognized her visitor and grinned.

"Why, hello again, Aragorn."

Somehow I think he'd understand. I wonder.

littlemanpoet · 11-16-2006, 06:57 PM

"Why, hello again, Aragorn." It was Becca, and she was smiling. She remembered! Sid couldn't help the smile that came to his face.

"You can call me Sid."

There was Midnight, her cat, tail high and back arched, her side brushing against Becca's shin. Midnight was looking straight at Sid with a look of appraisal.

"Hi Midnight. Are you glad to be safe at home again?" Sid grinned and looked up at Becca. He noticed a slight tilt of her head, an odd glint in her eye, as if she was considering something; what, he could not guess: whether he'd fit in her witch's kettle? Don't be silly, Sid!

He held out his pillow case, feeling very self-conscious. She was still smiling, still had that strange expression on her face. It made her look like very pretty. Sid was beginning to notice things like that a lot more just in the last two months. He let his imagination dance a little bit, which probably came from reading that one set of books more often than any other. He imagined that Becca was someone who had jumped out of that little short story he'd read, that she was the Queen of Faerie, and that she was masquerading as a neighbor on Halloween night. Ah, why not? he thought to himself.

"Trick or treat, my Lady." Sid immediately winced, which he was sure she had seen, and felt doubly foolish.

Celuien · 11-19-2006, 07:04 AM

Becca regarded Sid thoughtfully, still smiling. He seemed so awkward and embarrassed. And yet there was something else too that she couldn't quite describe. Something that she had first noticed when they went off to find Midnight.

"Trick or treat, my Lady," he said. And winced.

"Rightly spoken, my Lord." Becca replied, trying to overcome Sid's embarrassment. She scooped chocolates into his pillowcase, then reached to the platter of cupcakes.

He should be the one. She picked up a cupcake.

"You know, Sid, it was very nice of you to help with find Midnight. Thank you. I have a special treat for you." Becca held out her hand and the white and silver frosting on the cupcake sparkled under her porch light.

littlemanpoet · 11-20-2006, 08:59 PM

The frosting on the cupcake sparkled in the porchlight, like little stars. Her words had been kind, and so Sid had fallen in love. Of course that was silly, she was a grown woman and he was just a twelve year old boy. But he was in love with the Queen of Faery, and this was she standing before him. Of course not really, but why not on this one night of the year?

Sid tentatively reached and took the cupcake in his hand, brushing her palm, sending shivers down his wrist. What if she really was the Faery Queen? Do you have another name, my lady?

"Uh, is it okay if I eat it now? Becca? Ma'am? My lady? Your highness?" he stumbed over his tongue and winced again.

Celuien · 11-21-2006, 09:33 AM

"Certainly. It's probably best to eat it now." It was best. Both because Becca wanted to see if she had given Sid the right cupcake and because she thought he might have questions for her afterward.

Becca suddenly chuckled. "You know, Sid, I really ought to be the one saying, 'Your Highness.' You are the King of Gondor, after all. And I'm just Becca the harp player."

littlemanpoet · 11-21-2006, 10:47 AM

"Me, king of Gondor?" Sid grinned. Becca was beyond nice. "Well maybe tonight." He took a bite of the cupcake. It was good. He looked at where he had bitten. It was glittery on the inside too. Sid wondered how she did that. He put the rest of it in his mouth. There was a tingle on his tongue this time along with the sweetness. He swallowed, and it went down smoothly; but it also seemed to go up into his head. Was this what strong drink was like?

He looked at Becca. Suddenly he knew that she was not the Faery Queen, but that she had been to Faery for real. He could see it in her eyes, in her smile, in her hair, like a glow that came off her skin.

"You've really been there, haven't you?"

Sid said it with a sense of awe. Then he felt a little tickle on his forehead. He put his hand up to itch it, but the urge stopped the moment he touched his skin; he could feel something different there, somehow, but not in a way that he could normally feel.

"What just happened, Becca?"

Her smile was softer now. "You have been given the Star of of the King of Faery. You can pass its borders now."

Sid's jaw dropped. He knew it was true. Becca had been there, but now she could no longer go there. Tears came to his eyes and his throat clenched.

"You can't go anymore. You're not old yet, why did you give it to me?" I would have liked to go there with you!

Celuien · 11-24-2006, 07:51 PM

The Star had been passed on irrevocably, and Becca's smile was now tinged with sadness. The paths to Faery were closed to her. That knowledge came with a pang, but one that was eased by Sid's understanding of the gift. She felt that she had chosen well.

She spoke, and her voice was low and gentle. "There are some gifts, Sid, that are too precious for one person to keep. Special gifts that are bigger than any one person. Gifts that aren't owned, but only held and loved for a time until they're meant to be shared. The Star is one. It was time for me to pass it to the next person, just as it has been passed on from one keeper to the next for more years than I know.

I can't go back. But I'll always know and remember, and that's more than any but a very few people can say. And, even more importantly, I know that someone else will come to know Faery after me. You."

"But why me?" Sid's eyes were still full of silver bright tears.

"So many reasons. But mostly, it seemed like you were meant to have it. On this one night, you were here, and you helped me. There's more at work in the world than chance, you know."

"I wish...I wish that you could still go too."

Becca brushed Sid's shoulder. "It's okay, Sid. It was time. And if there's anything I've learned from having the Star, it's that there's a little bit of Faery all around us, all the time, if only we keep watching for it. Look!"

They turned and looked out at the night, and the stars glittered in Becca's eyes.

11-14-2006, 11:15 AM	#1
Celuien Riveting Ribbiter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Assigned to Mordor Posts: 1,767	The evening had flown in streams of children knocking at Becca's door. All had been given candy in handfuls. Chocolates and caramels and butterscotch. And then there were a few who were given an extra gift of one of the glistening white cupcakes. A little girl with a gentle smile and a soft light in her blue eyes. A dark haired boy with a big grin and merry laugh. A sad faced child dressed as Cinderella. And many others. Only three cupcakes remained, including the most important of the set, though Becca didn't know which held the prize. "I didn't make them, you know," she whispered to Midnight. "He did, on my last trip. And he put the star into the batter. I don't know which has the star. But he said I could choose who will have it next. And I don't think I chose anyone who has been here so far." Midnight's tail swished. "It would be easier if I knew the children, the way they did it in the old days at the feast. But I don't know most of them. I don't know if they'd understand. Faerie is special. Everyone who gets a cupcake tonight will know that, at least for a while. But the one who gets the star has to truly understand." There was another knock at the door. Becca recognized her visitor and grinned. "Why, hello again, Aragorn." Somehow I think he'd understand. I wonder. Last edited by Celuien; 11-15-2006 at 10:53 AM.

11-16-2006, 06:57 PM	#2
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	"Why, hello again, Aragorn." It was Becca, and she was smiling. She remembered! Sid couldn't help the smile that came to his face. "You can call me Sid." There was Midnight, her cat, tail high and back arched, her side brushing against Becca's shin. Midnight was looking straight at Sid with a look of appraisal. "Hi Midnight. Are you glad to be safe at home again?" Sid grinned and looked up at Becca. He noticed a slight tilt of her head, an odd glint in her eye, as if she was considering something; what, he could not guess: whether he'd fit in her witch's kettle? Don't be silly, Sid! He held out his pillow case, feeling very self-conscious. She was still smiling, still had that strange expression on her face. It made her look like very pretty. Sid was beginning to notice things like that a lot more just in the last two months. He let his imagination dance a little bit, which probably came from reading that one set of books more often than any other. He imagined that Becca was someone who had jumped out of that little short story he'd read, that she was the Queen of Faerie, and that she was masquerading as a neighbor on Halloween night. Ah, why not? he thought to himself. "Trick or treat, my Lady." Sid immediately winced, which he was sure she had seen, and felt doubly foolish. Last edited by littlemanpoet; 11-16-2006 at 08:23 PM.

11-19-2006, 07:04 AM	#3
Celuien Riveting Ribbiter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Assigned to Mordor Posts: 1,767	Becca regarded Sid thoughtfully, still smiling. He seemed so awkward and embarrassed. And yet there was something else too that she couldn't quite describe. Something that she had first noticed when they went off to find Midnight. "Trick or treat, my Lady," he said. And winced. "Rightly spoken, my Lord." Becca replied, trying to overcome Sid's embarrassment. She scooped chocolates into his pillowcase, then reached to the platter of cupcakes. He should be the one. She picked up a cupcake. "You know, Sid, it was very nice of you to help with find Midnight. Thank you. I have a special treat for you." Becca held out her hand and the white and silver frosting on the cupcake sparkled under her porch light.

11-20-2006, 08:59 PM	#4
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	The frosting on the cupcake sparkled in the porchlight, like little stars. Her words had been kind, and so Sid had fallen in love. Of course that was silly, she was a grown woman and he was just a twelve year old boy. But he was in love with the Queen of Faery, and this was she standing before him. Of course not really, but why not on this one night of the year? Sid tentatively reached and took the cupcake in his hand, brushing her palm, sending shivers down his wrist. What if she really was the Faery Queen? Do you have another name, my lady? "Uh, is it okay if I eat it now? Becca? Ma'am? My lady? Your highness?" he stumbed over his tongue and winced again.

11-21-2006, 09:33 AM	#5
Celuien Riveting Ribbiter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Assigned to Mordor Posts: 1,767	"Certainly. It's probably best to eat it now." It was best. Both because Becca wanted to see if she had given Sid the right cupcake and because she thought he might have questions for her afterward. Becca suddenly chuckled. "You know, Sid, I really ought to be the one saying, 'Your Highness.' You are the King of Gondor, after all. And I'm just Becca the harp player."

11-21-2006, 10:47 AM	#6
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	"Me, king of Gondor?" Sid grinned. Becca was beyond nice. "Well maybe tonight." He took a bite of the cupcake. It was good. He looked at where he had bitten. It was glittery on the inside too. Sid wondered how she did that. He put the rest of it in his mouth. There was a tingle on his tongue this time along with the sweetness. He swallowed, and it went down smoothly; but it also seemed to go up into his head. Was this what strong drink was like? He looked at Becca. Suddenly he knew that she was not the Faery Queen, but that she had been to Faery for real. He could see it in her eyes, in her smile, in her hair, like a glow that came off her skin. "You've really been there, haven't you?" Sid said it with a sense of awe. Then he felt a little tickle on his forehead. He put his hand up to itch it, but the urge stopped the moment he touched his skin; he could feel something different there, somehow, but not in a way that he could normally feel. "What just happened, Becca?" Her smile was softer now. "You have been given the Star of of the King of Faery. You can pass its borders now." Sid's jaw dropped. He knew it was true. Becca had been there, but now she could no longer go there. Tears came to his eyes and his throat clenched. "You can't go anymore. You're not old yet, why did you give it to me?" I would have liked to go there with you!

11-24-2006, 07:51 PM	#7
Celuien Riveting Ribbiter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Assigned to Mordor Posts: 1,767	The Star had been passed on irrevocably, and Becca's smile was now tinged with sadness. The paths to Faery were closed to her. That knowledge came with a pang, but one that was eased by Sid's understanding of the gift. She felt that she had chosen well. She spoke, and her voice was low and gentle. "There are some gifts, Sid, that are too precious for one person to keep. Special gifts that are bigger than any one person. Gifts that aren't owned, but only held and loved for a time until they're meant to be shared. The Star is one. It was time for me to pass it to the next person, just as it has been passed on from one keeper to the next for more years than I know. I can't go back. But I'll always know and remember, and that's more than any but a very few people can say. And, even more importantly, I know that someone else will come to know Faery after me. You." "But why me?" Sid's eyes were still full of silver bright tears. "So many reasons. But mostly, it seemed like you were meant to have it. On this one night, you were here, and you helped me. There's more at work in the world than chance, you know." "I wish...I wish that you could still go too." Becca brushed Sid's shoulder. "It's okay, Sid. It was time. And if there's anything I've learned from having the Star, it's that there's a little bit of Faery all around us, all the time, if only we keep watching for it. Look!" They turned and looked out at the night, and the stars glittered in Becca's eyes.