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There is a forest, far beyond anything known in your world or mine. Faes dance in the moonlight and centaurs roam, keeping their land safe. On the edge of the forest there is a town, presided over by a lordship. The current lord, one Artemis Fowl the Second, lived with his father, who had recently bequeathed his title to his eldest son, Artemis’ mother and his twin brothers. The town was prosperous, though the lord and his family were rarely encountered out and about during the day. They threw parties that happened after dark or one could request an audience with them during the afternoon, as long as it was within the confines of their palace. If lucky, townsfolk might see the family on a particularly cloudy day. These few sightings caused rumours of course, but no one would say much to the family themselves, lest they be victims of whatever curse ruled them.
Outside the township, the Fowl’s were notorious for cavorting with Fae folk. Before these specific Fowl’s came to power, the humans and the residents of the forest lived separate lives, but when Artemis Fowl I was named lord, he had made an active effort to negotiate and even befriend the Fae. There were rumours that his wife, even, was an unspecified Fae and that’s why he was so keen to mingle with them. There were others that stated that the family cavorted with the Fae in order to cure whatever curse failed the family. Either way, Artemis II continued the tradition set by his father once he was named lord, and many assumed that he, unlike his father, actually saw the use of the fairy magic. He did indeed.
Somewhere in the woods, there is a faery who, if you asked for her name, would not give it, but tell you to call her Holly. She lived in a nice sized hut, with a thatched roof and brick walls. She tended her animals (a goat, four chickens, two chicks, and a rabbit) with great care, and imbued her garden with magic. She might bless or curse those who pass by, depending on the impression they made on her. She enjoyed visitors, and let many enter her dwelling, knowledgeable about faery rules or not. This was where Artemis Fowl II was heading on an especially snowy day.
Artemis had written the map to the faery's house on a piece of paper before he left his palace, and checked it obsessively, attempting to not get lost. He knew of this faery, had heard of her power, her prowess with magic. He had even been lucky enough to taste food from her garden. He was heading there to ask a question or two, among other things.
Eventually, Artemis arrived at the small, snow-covered cottage. There was smoke curling from the chimney and the yard that would have been lively had it been any other season was dormant underneath the blanket of snow. There was a peace to it that Artemis was almost envious of. He knocked on the wooden door using a brass knocker.
The door swung open, revealing a short faery. Her skin was copper-toned and her hair was rusty, pulled into a high bun. She was wearing a warm, long sleeve dress and warm stockings, comfortable for the snowy weather. She smiled playfully as she opened the door. “I’ve been expecting you.”
“Have you?” Artemis asked, doing his best to keep a straight face. Best to not give too much away when meeting a faery.
“I have. Can I have your name?” she extended her hand as though reaching for something. Artemis knew better than to take it.
“You may not.” Artemis said with confidence. He had more than enough practice to know what she really meant. “But you may call me Artemis.”
“Hmph,” the faery pouted playfully. “Well, call me Holly, M’lord.”
“Holly?” Artemis raised his eyebrow. “Lovely name.”
“Thank you, it was a birthday gift.” Holly’s coy smile returned. Artemis had no doubt Holly was telling the truth about her name, though he assumed that it wasn’t for her birthday she’d been given it.
“I have a request.” Artemis stated matter-of-factly. “It is of high importance.”
“Is it now?” Holly became more serious, but the glint in her eye remained. “Well then, enter, please. No need to freeze while discussing business.”
Artemis was grateful for the invitation and entered the small cabin. It was warm as soon as he entered. It wasn’t obviously magical on first blush, just a cozy dwelling. The entrance lead directly to a living space and kitchen. Two large, overstuffed couches covered in every manner of blanket were positioned in front of a roaring fireplace. On either side, there were bookcases, packed with many volumes on various subjects and in more languages than Artemis knew. A small table was pushed up against the far wall with three chairs positioned around it. There was an ice box and several darkwood counters, a wood burning stove and a sink with a water pump. The cabinets were the same darkwood as the counters and had glass doors. There were two small windows and a door to the backyard in the kitchen, and a massive window seat in the living room, facing out into the front yard. The curtains on all the glass were pulled tight in an effort to keep the heat inside.
There was also a goat. It was standing in front of the fireplace. Artemis stared at it for a long moment.
“Don’t mind Gilbert,” Holly said from the stove. She was putting on water to boil. “His barn’s heating spell wore off, and I felt just awful leaving him out there without it. He’ll settle down eventually.”
Artemis nodded, despite being Holly being unable to see him, and took off his snow jacket, hanging it up on one of the hooks next to the door. He stamped the snow off his boots before taking them off in an effort to be polite. Then, he took a seat on one of the sofas. Gilbert continued to stare. Artemis stared back. Holly began to hum idly and Artemis felt as though he could melt right into the sofa, fall asleep on the pile of blankets and be very happy. He shook himself. Faery tricks. He wouldn’t allow Holly to get to him.
“I’m not making you drowsy.” Holly called, as though she had read his mind. “I have no need. You haven’t been sleeping, I can see the bags under your eyes.”
“Maybe that’s normal.” Artemis called back, watching Holly sway to the beat of a song only she could hear.
“Hmm,” was all Holly had to say. She poured the water into a mug and pulled something out of the ice box, poured it into another glass and replaced the item. Navigating her way around the furniture, she placed the mug down on the table next to Artemis and her own glass, filled with viscous red liquid, on the other end table.
“Earl grey, black, coconut water.” Holly said as she put the mug down.
Artemis had so many questions. He decided to start with the most pressing. “Coconut water?”
Holly nodded. “Friends in high places. Or warm places one might say. You’ve had coconut water before, have you not?”
“Occasionally.” He refused to give anything away. He was surprised that Holly knew coconut water was good for him without him saying anything. “And your drink?”
Holly tipped her head to the side. “Pomegranate juice.”
“Are you mocking me?”
Holly looked affronted, but not genuinely. “Of course not, m’lord. I received it as a… gift from a traveller. They were just so grateful for the spell they received. I have yet to try it”
Artemis kept his temper, knowing full well that he was under Holly’s domain. He would remain civil until she inevitably slipped up. He cleared his throat. “Of course.”
“Now,” Holly reached out her hand and pet Gilbert, who was still staring intensely at Artemis. The goat relaxed immediately and meandered slowly to a pile of blankets on the floor. Gilbert curled up and was asleep within minutes. “You’re not sleeping.”
“I’m sleeping just well, thank you.” Artemis said. Holly tipped her head in a way that made it clear she did not believe him. “But, for the purpose of argument, I’m here about what has been keeping me up at night.”
“And not just to visit? You wound me.” Holly pouted playfully again, holding her hand dramatically over her heart.
Artemis was treading on thin ice. “Of course, that as well.”
Holly hummed, looking around the room, searching for something. “If you’re here to visit, then, we ought to do something fun before getting down to business.” Holly spotted what she had been looking for. A stone chess board that sat on the highest shelf of one of her bookshelves. Artemis watched Holly as she pulled a stool that was leaning against her wall, climbed to the top step, and reached out for the chess board.
“Let me help,” Artemis stood. He had at least three-quarters foot on Holly, and much longer arms. He could reach the chess board with ease. He approached the bookcase and grabbed the chessboard, lowering it down to where Holly could grab it from him. At this angle, Holly was just barely shorter than him. He could feel her breath on his chin and her eyes watch him curiously. Their chests were almost touching. Artemis’ breaths slowed and his heartbeat sped up.
There was a particularly loud crackle from the fireplace that seemed to break the spell. Artemis took a step back and held the chessboard out for Holly to take. Holly smiled genuinely and took the board. She climbed down the steps and placed it on the side table with Artemis’ tea on it, nudging the mug slightly to make room. Artemis sat on the couch again and Holly pulled the table so it sat between them, black pieces toward her.
“You know I am a chess grandmaster, right?” Artemis asked genuinely. He was unsure whether or not winning in these circumstances would make him a bad house guest.
“Of course,” Holly said cheerily. “I can beat you, though.”
“Can you? How confident are you?”
“Fairly.” Holly waved her hand dismissively. “I’m not good at strategy, but I’m very good at knowing my opponent.”
“Do you think you’re good enough to place a wager on the game?” This was Artemis’ chance. All he had to do was to get her to agree. He was a very good chess player, and he knew that Holly was far too proud to back down from a challenge or go back on an agreement, even when the agreement didn’t go her way.
Holly was intrigued. “A wager? What for?”
“If I win, you must agree to one question I ask you. Just one.” Artemis knew that Holly understood what he meant. She had already deduced who and what he was.
“And what’s in it for me?” Holly was won over by the offer already, but she wasn’t stupid enough to do anything with no gain to herself.
“I won’t bother you with the business I have. I know you and the other fae have no stake in the war that we’re fighting right now, and my business pertains to that.”
Holly thought for a moment. “I’m curious as to what you want from me. I have no stake in the war, you’re correct. I know little about it. I’m not obligated to help you win, even if I lose this match however, so it’s of no benefit to me if you remain quiet about what’s on your mind.”
Artemis hummed internally. What did he have that a faery could want? “I won’t return with any requests for favours after this.”
Holly snorted. “How long will that last? Magic is a drug, as I’m sure you’re well aware. One favour and you’ll demand for more.”
“What else could you possibly want?”
Holly was silent for a long moment. She took a long sip of her pomegranate juice. “I want you,” she said slowly, “to take care of yourself.”
“I’m sorry?” Artemis was surprised.
“You heard me. Take care of yourself. Humans are…” Holly made a face. “Not great to us. But your family has been by far the least terrible. You have no heir and I shudder to think who could be put in your place should you perish. At best, your brothers, and at worst… I don’t want to think about it too much.”
Even after hearing this, Artemis was still surprised. Technically, his family hadn’t been alive for a long time, but he could certainly stop whatever they were doing that wasn’t quite living, should he stop taking care of himself. This request seemed to be small enough, though he’d need to put his mind to it. It was easy to forget to eat or sleep when something else pulled his attention.
“I understand.” Artemis said.
“And you know the consequences if you don’t take care of yourself?” Holly warned. She wasn’t one to warn her victims, perhaps she felt kinder than usual today.
“I do.” Artemis wasn’t sure exactly, but he could guess.
“Perfect,” Holly held her hand out across the board. Artemis grabbed it firmly and they shook. It was a deal. No going back now.
Artemis made his first move. Holly countered. The two of them went back and forth for a while in silence. The wind was blowing outside, the fire crackled in its hearth and Gilbert the goat snored softly on his pile of blankets. It was peaceful and cosy.
At what Artemis had figured about halfway through the game, Holly spoke up. “You still haven’t told me what’s been keeping you up.”
Artemis pondered his next move. He had to admit, at the moment, it was anyone's game. “Maybe I wasn’t planning on doing that.”
Holly hummed to herself, toying with her pieces while she waited for Artemis. “Shame. I might have been able to help.”
Artemis looked up at the faery as he made his move. “I know what your help often consists of. I’m not sure I want that.”
Holly giggled to herself. “Fine, no strings attached, tell me what's bothering you. I won’t offer any help other than to listen and allow you to get whatever it is off your chest.”
Artemis raised his eyebrows disbelievingly and watched Holly make her next move. He knew it was a bad idea to tell the fae his problems, even if that was why he was there in the first place. Holly already all but refused to help, so it wasn’t much of her business. Artemis moved his queen. “Check.”
When Artemis looked up at Holly, she was pouting at him, widening her eyes just slightly too wide to be sincere. “Come on,” she whined in an effort to get anything out of him. “I don’t get news of far off wars. The travellers I see don’t talk about it.”
Artemis sighed, but relented. “You know who we’re fighting don’t you?”
“Nope. Like I said, I don’t hear that much out here.” Holly moved out of check.
Artemis studied the board as though it were a battlefield. “There’s a faery, Opal Koboi, who’s very much convinced humans stole land that belongs to her. Not faeries in general, but to her specifically. She’s convinced a lot of other fae she’s correct as well. It… it’s not a fun war to fight, when one side has magic, and the other does not.”
“And you want my help?”
“I considered asking, yes. At most, I know you hold some rallying power over the other fae, and if not, at least one person with magic couldn’t hurt.”
Artemis and Holly made their next few moves in silence. Holly was deep in though, but clearly not just about the game. “And this is not the question you wanted to ask me?”
Artemis shrugged, something he didn’t do very often and did even less when he felt uncomfortable. “Yes and no. I have another question in mind, but I came to you with both problems.”
“Oooo,” Holly shuffled closer to the board and subsequently her opponent. “What’s the other problem?”
“It’s not a problem, per se.” Artemis took Holly’s rook. “Either way, it is only for you to know if you lose the game.”
Artemis could see the gears turning in his companion’s head. Suddenly, he had the upper hand, and they both knew it. Holly had a choice to make. She could win the game and the wager so Artemis would take care of himself, or she could throw the game, make herself lose the wager and the chess match, but learn what Artemis’ other problem was. She did have a third option, calling truce and begging for both arrangements to be upheld, but that in itself was a form of loss.
The fae huffed. “You come to me with a question and you don’t even want it answered?”
“No, I didn’t say that.” Artemis flashed a vampiric grin. “I want it answered, but by the terms of the arrangement, I can’t tell you what it is. Especially not until the game is over.”
That got a strong glare directed at him, but not too strong. Holly knew he was right, but more importantly, she couldn’t call him out for trickery of any sort lest she be a rude hostess.
Finally , Artemis thought. I win, no matter the outcome.
There was another huff and Holly stood. Her demeanour changed instantly. “More tea?” She asked in the most sickly sweet way.
Artemis took a sip of his earl grey. It was still half full, but far too cold for his liking. Regardless, he refused.
“Please,” Holly held out her hand. “I insist.”
Artemis nodded and handed his cup over.
“You know,” Holly began, as she made her way over to the kitchen again. “I was taken advantage of, once.”
“Oh?” It suddenly dawned on Artemis that he could have been trapped himself, in thinking he had trapped the faery. He was so certain, to the point of excess, perhaps. This was her household after all, and she could do plenty of things without breaching her good hospitality.
“Oh yes. I don’t share my failures often, as you should know. But I will admit to mistakes when they happen, as rare as they may be.” There was a clink as Holly placed the kettle again on the stovetop. “He promised a lot, as did I. He lost the bet we made, but still argued in his favour. He was not a good man, but he was witty.’
‘I mean to make no comparison, mind.” Holly continued after a pause. “He gained everything by taking unjustly. You, on the other hand.” Holly spun around to face her companion. “Have tricked me into a place where I can only lose, and yet still will gain. And that is a more impressive trick by far. I will call off the deal and give you what you want, if you tell me one thing.”
Artemis rested his forearms on the table, next to the chess board and steepled his fingers. “And that would be?”
The kettle behind Holly began to sing. “Did you intend to trick me?”
“No,” Artemis answered honestly. “I saw an opportunity and took it.”
Holly snorted, taking Artemis by surprise. Of all the reactions, laughter was not the one he expected. “Very good, mudman.” There was a click behind her and she turned to pour the tea. There was only silence and the wind as Holly filled the mug, grabbed a tea bag and moved back to the couch. She handed the mug to Artemis and leaned back in her chair. “I forfeit. You have won. What do you want?”
Artemis took a sip from his mug. “Come with me to the gala.”
Holly looked shocked. “What?”
“My mother has once again demanded I throw a gala for the holidays, in order to avoid the freezing temperature outside and to get our citizen’s spirits up.” Artemis looked at his hands. “The war has worn us down. They need joy.”
When Artemis looked up, Holly was staring back with a quizzical frown on her face. Her hands were folded in her lap and she was pursing her lips. A few seconds passed. She opened her mouth to speak but closed it again before making a sound.
Artemis was overcome. Suddenly he regretted coming, the chess match, the questions. He made a mistake. He shouldn’t be here.
“I’m sorry,” Artemis stood. “I… I shouldn’t have said anything at all. Thank you for the tea.”
Artemis turned and made his way around the couch, moving toward the door.
“Why me?” Holly’s voice stopped him in his tracks.
He turned to face her. “What?”
Holly was standing, hands on her hips, the confusion on her face had softened slightly. “I am…” Holly stopped. The crackle of the fire enveloped the pair. Holly gestured to herself. “And you… We would be…”
“Come with me.” Artemis took a step forward. “Come with me anyway.” Artemis held out his hand. He was often described as bold, but in matters of interpersonal relationships… Artemis was good at saying what others wanted to hear, which often didn’t leave space for internal thoughts.
Holly hesitated, but eventually took his hand, nodding slowly. “Okay.”
Artemis smiled. A genuinely happy smile. He hadn’t done that often.
“You have to come back for another game of chess,” Holly said back into her normal demeanour. One of these days, I’ll actually beat you.”
Artemis laughed. “Deal.”