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Salt Cellar followed Lord Commander as they made their way through the thick brush of the forest.
"Lord Commander, can we not simply cut away the ferns and foliage blocking our way?" Salt Cellar questioned.
"We cannot," Lord Commander responded, stepping over a lily. "I swore to Elder Faerie that no harm would come to his kingdom, be it creature or plant."
"Of course. My apologies, Lord Commander," Salt Cellar apologized. She followed, being careful of the lily.
As they continued to walk through the forest, Salt Cellar looked around. It was beautiful everywhere she looked. The sky was a pale indigo, wispy clouds flying north-east. The grass was soft and damp, covered with droplets of fresh rain. Glowing flowers and mushrooms littered the forest floor.
Rarely did the Master or Trials ever leave the Barren Wastes, but she certainly enjoyed it when she did. While her duty was to her Commander and her fellow Kala Namak Knights, she always felt drawn to the world outside the only home she ever knew.
"We are here," Lord Commander announced, halting his footsteps.
Salt Cellar stopped at his side, taking in the majesty of the Faerie Kingdom.
Floating lights danced around, faeries flew about everywhere, and choirs could be heard singing hymns in the distance.
"So this is where you disappeared to..." Salt Cellar mumbled, lost in the simple elegance of everything around her.
"Come. We are to meet Elder Faerie at his palace," Lord Commander instructed, walking once more.
As they passed through the kingdom, faeries curiously flew closer to them, hovering nearby and staring.
One faerie flew right infront of them, startling Salt Cellar. She gripped her Mace and pointed it the Faerie, but Lord Commander gently pushed her mace down.
Salt Cellar gave Lord Commander and confused glance when the Faerie that stopped them placed a crown of daffodils on her head. That Faerie then flew away, going about their day.
"That was... strange..." Salt Cellar hummed, lowering her mace to her side.
"The faeries know me, but have never met you. Faeries are curious cookies, and some do not know personal space. It's simply not their nature like it is ours," Lord Commander explained. "Now let us continue. I do not wish to keep Elder Faerie waiting."
"Worry not, old friend. I am always able to make time for your visits," spoke a new, gentle voice.
Both knights turned their head to see Elder Faerie standing on top of the bridge before them.
"Elder Faerie, it is good to see you well," Lord Commander replied.
"Likewise, Salt," Elder Fairie nodded. "And this must be your Master of Trials, I take it?"
Salt Cellar stepped forward and kneeled.
"It's an honor to be in your presence, your majesty," she said deferentially.
Elder Faerie chuckled softly and gestured for her to stand.
"Worry not, my child. You have no need to kneel before me," he smiled.
"As you wish," Salt Cellar nodded, rising from her knee.
"Salt Cellar, I would like for you to look around the kingdom. I have some personal matters to attend to with Elder Faerie," Lord Commander instructed.
"Your order will be done," Salt Cellar saluted.
Lord Commander walked onto the bridge and beside Elder Faerie, making their way towards the castle.
Salt Cellar looked around, unsure what to do. What was she to do? Left to her own devices in a kingdom she had never been in? She knew never to question her Commander, but how could she not in her current position?
Salt Cellar walked through the Faerie Kingdom, looking for something to occupy herself until she was summoned when she heard a soft *clink* under her boot.
She looked down and saw a silver bracelet, tiny topaz gems embed in the band. She picked it up and inspected it. There was an inscription on the inside.
"Sugarfly..." Salt Cellar said softly. Sugarfly was probably the owner of the bracelet. "It would be dishonorable of me to not return this."
Finally having something to do, she set of in search of the owner of the bracelet.
It took some time, asking around if any faerie knew Sugarfly and where she was. But she eventually had a lead.
Salt Cellar walked along the outer edges of the kingdom, searching for any sign of a pound. A faerie she had asked mentioned it was usually where Sugarfly spent her time, so it was her best chance at finding this mystery faerie.
Salt Cellar suddenly halted. She looked into the forest, hearing something faint. It sounded like... crying? Was some-cookie hurt? As a knight, and a cookie in general, she couldn't ignore such a possibility. She could continue her search later.
She marched through the forest, her grip tight oonher mace. A cookie could never tell when an enemy would attack.
As she continued, the sobs became more clear. The cookie sounded female. Early adult. Not hurt nor distressed, but still upset.
Salt Cellar rounded a tree when she found the cookie she was looking for. And she was... breath-taking.
Her wings glistened like morning dew. Her tears shimmered like ice. Both reflected light, which bounced onto tree and crested a sparkling effect.
She sat on a large boulder, which overlooked a pond filled with water lilies. Her tears created ripples that disturbed the still water.
Quickly, she shook her head, regaining her stoic composure before making her presence known.
"Are you alright, miss?" Salt Cellar asked, slowly approching the rock?
The Faerie let out a small gasp before quickly wiping away her years.
"Y-Yes, I'm okay..." the Faerie answered, her voice wavering.
"May I have a seat?" Salt Cellar inquired.
"Yes, of course..." the Faerie nodded.
Salt Cellar leaned he mace against the boulder before taking a seat on it, sitting next to this silver beauty.
"May I ask why you cry?" Salt Cellar asked softly.
"Every other Faerie' wings are unique and so pretty... And mine are so plain..." the Faerie frowned, looking down at her reflection. "I'm plain... and basic..."
"Nonsense," Salt Cellar stated, cupping the faerie's face and making her look up at her. "I'm looking at you right now, you are the most beautiful girl in the world."
"You mean it...?" the Faerie asked.
"I mean it..." Salt Cellar hummed. She let go of the Faerie and offered her a handkerchief.
The Faerie accepted it and wiped her tears.
"May I know your name?" Salt Cellar questioned.
"Oh, how rude of me. My name is Sugarfly Cookie," the Faerie introduced.
"You're Sugarfly? That would mean this is yours," Salt Cellar realized, taking the bracelet out of her pocket.
"My bracelet! I thought I'd lost it," Sugarfly exclaimed, her wings splaying out in surprise.
"Allow me," Salt Cellar requested, offering her hand.
Sugarfly giggled slightly, giving Salt Cellar her hand, who slid the bracelet on.
"May I know the name of the name of the knight who returned my favorite bracelet?" Sugarfly asked.
"Salt Cellar Cookie, miss Sugarfly," Salt Cellar answered, smiling slightly.
"As a thank you, would you like me to show you around the kingdom?" Sugarfly asked.
"I would appreciate it greatly," Salt Cellar agreed.
Sugarfly's smiled widened as she stood up, taking Salt Cellar's hand in both of hers.
"Let's get going then!"
Salt Cellar's smile grew as the Faerie began to lead them back to the kingdom.