Rite of Annarii: Annarii Fae Series, #1

Prologue

MY NAME IS FELLWYNNE, Fellwynne Skye to be exact. I don’t know much about my past, and don’t have much in the way of family for that matter either. It’s different in my world. My family is a strange lot. They are the ones that took me in when I was just a babe, left in the woods to die. From what I know, that’s what humans do to their babies they don’t want any more, or think are changelings. Preposterous notions, that the faeries would steal your child and give you one of their own.

The faeries have been nothing but good to me, and they’ve treated me as one of them since the beginning. That’s about the only thing you humans got right about them. They will take the child you abandon to the wilds and care for it. I guess I should get started then.

There is a lot to tell you about the truth of my world. And I bet you, like every other human, will be surprised to see how little you know of it. The easiest way to do that, is to just tell you my story. So, let’s start where my epic journey began. In the middle of a forest long since forgotten by man, where faeries, sprites, unicorns, and all manner of creatures still roam free.

Chapter 1

IT WAS A LOVELY SPRING day, a few weeks after the equinox, so not as cold as to need a cloak, but breezy enough to remind you that you still needed a thick frock and summer was still some ways away. Or at least that’s how I felt about it. But fig, if I didn’t want to be running around in something less stifling already. At least the last of the snows had melted. I didn’t appreciate having to walk through it on a daily basis. Watching it fall from safe inside my home, now that was another thing altogether.

First off, I have to explain the biggest misconceptions about my family. They aren’t these tiny winged creatures that could be swallowed whole by a large toad or an especially angry hawk. Why, they stand as tall as you and me! Although they do have wings however, those of which I am sad to say I envy. They surely do not have rainbow coloured skin to match their wings, nor do they have little fang-like teeth. Really, where do you humans come up with this stuff?

I will admit that some of your stories at least have the right clothing about them. And for Goddess sake, they don’t run around naked all day, that would be chilly, not to mention awkward. Could you imagine running around in the nude all day?

What happens when you run into some stinging nettle or lay out in the sun too long? Ouch! Most of your stories about the faerie folk seem to be based more on the sprites than anything. And trust me; they are a whole different topic for another day.

Now, where were we? Oh, the dresses! The dresses were stunning; more intricate in their detail and fragile in their making than anything your world could come up with. It took fifty rolls of spider’s silk and ten seamstresses three whole weeks to create one gown! They weaved it all by hand and sewed in these little beads of dew to make them shimmer. Then, when it was all made, they added little things into the design. Sometimes it was tiny leaves, carefully sewn in layers to fill out the gown. Other times, they would use little flower buds and line them up just so, so that you could hardly tell there was anything else under there! But before you go thinking that I’m obsessed about fashion, let me tell you, these dresses were very important. Not everyone got one of these masterpieces, and if you were one of the lucky ones, you were only allowed to wear it for the Rite of Annarii ceremony.

What is the Rite of Annarii, you ask? Well, it was the biggest event of the year, trumping even the year-end ball at Mabon, during the Autumn Equinox. All the graduates of each type of magick training dressed in their specific ceremonial garbs and marched along the main thoroughfare through the village, known as the Parade of Pride, up to the Temple of the Ancients. That was where the Elders of our village lived and worked. Everything important went on at the Elder’s Temple.

Once there, each graduate was recognized for their specific talent in their field of study and given an extra gift by the Elders, to help aid them in furthering said talent. It was said that the Goddess herself granted these gifts to the Elders to be distributed among the brightest and best of each class.

Then all the graduates, after receiving their gifts, went into the temple to obtain their first tattoo. It was a rite of passage to receive your first Mark. A symbol that not only represented who they were, but also those young folk who were of an age to be out in the world and start their own path. Classes ended a few days before and we had one month until the ceremony.

EVERYONE WAS SO BUSY getting things ready. My best friend, Willow Leafshimmer, and I had been tasked to pick the Elderberries that would be used for our tattoos. They got their name because they literally were the Elders’ berries; no one else was allowed to use them. They not only provided the ink for our tattoos, but also the ceremonial wine during important events, like the Mabon Ball, weddings and other such goings on at the Temple. Since ours was one of the largest graduating classes, we needed to pick forty baskets full. Apparently, it took nearly an entire basket of Elderberries to make the ink for one tattoo! Only the largest and darkest of Elderberries would do, so we were in the fields going through each bush and picking out the best of the crop.

Hey Fell, do you think that we will get selected for a gown? I’d love to have one of my own. Imagine standing there and having everyone see you in one of those! Why, Drake would probably be drooling all over the place! Willow laughed as she thought about being selected for the honour of wearing a gown.

Drake Blackthorn was her sweetheart, and was training to be one of the Elite. They guarded our village, and if need be, went out on missions for the Elders. What those were, was a complete mystery to just about everyone. They were a very secretive lot, but almost every girl in the village vied for the attentions of one of the Elite.

Oh, I don’t know, Willow. I’m sure you’ll be a shoe in. Me on the other hand, it’s highly unlikely. I wiped my brow with a cloth. Even though it was breezy, it did nothing for you when you were working in the fields.

Why would you say that? You were one of the top in our class too! You don’t still think you’re an outsider, do you? I told you, no one sees you that way. Just because you don’t have a set of wings, doesn’t mean you aren’t Fae. I mean, come on, the Elders even named you after our Goddess, the Great Fellura!

Exasperated, she threw her berry covered hands up in the air and, flapping her emerald coloured wings a little too vigorously, as she did when she got worked up, nearly knocked me over with the sudden movement.

Whoa girl, settle your wings! No, I don’t think I’m an outsider, and haven’t for a while now. It’s just that, well, have you ever heard of a human wearing one of them? I said, plucking another berry and putting it into the basket a bit more forcefully than necessary.

Well, no, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be the first! Besides, everything’s kind of a first for Annarii when it comes to you. Oh, don’t give me that look, you know what I mean. We’ve never had a human live with us or go to our schools. Plus, what human have you heard of that can use our magick? None, that’s who. Willow gave me one of those smirks that said she’s right and knew it.

You got me there. I am pretty cool, even though I’m human. I nudged her and we both laughed, getting back to our work of filling the baskets.

SEVERAL HOURS LATER, after the sun started to dip, we decided to take a break. Wiping our brows, we checked our progress.

Ugh, eight baskets in and I feel like I’m going to pass out. I’m so tired. Willow flopped onto one of the baskets she overturned and pointed at the other for me to sit.

Setting down my own full basket, I sat. Hearing my tummy grumbling, I scowled, We worked through lunch...again.

Oh well. I’m so tired I don’t think I could eat anything anyway.

Just then, Drake strolled on up carrying his own basket, one obviously full and not for helping with our berry picking.

Hey, ladies; thought you could use a meal!

Drake, you’re a diamond! I was just wishing I had something to eat.

I jumped up, grabbed the basket from him and started rummaging through to see what he brought. Drake went over to Willow, scooped her up in his arms and took her seat, keeping her firmly in place on his lap. She just grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Ugh, I’m so tired I don’t think I can even move a single muscle. Do you think the Elders will mind if we stop for the day? Willow asked.

Actually, that’s kind of why I’m here. He smiled. And blast if he didn’t have a gorgeous smile.

My best friend was lucky she had Drake, or the other girls in the village would be pawing all over him. He was definitely a looker, with his muscular arms and short brown spiky hair. Not to mention his eyes were nearly black, which gave him an air of mysteriousness.

Only when the light hit them just so, did you see they weren’t actually black at all, but a deep purple colour. They reminded me of the Black Devil Pansies I had planted outside my window. Why they were given such a name was beyond me, for they were stunning. The Elders are giving all graduates the rest of the day off. I was told to come fetch you ladies so you can clean up before the party tonight.

Oh my Goddess! We totally forgot about the party, Fell! What on earth are we going to wear?! At this, Willow jumped up and started covering the baskets we filled earlier, forgetting altogether her lack of muscular function.

Ugh, you’re right. I totally spaced it!

I wrapped the chunk of bread loaf I had been nibbling on back up and stuffed it back into the basket. I helped her finish covering our baskets with mesh before the night dews fell.

Drake picked up the basket he brought, informing us that the Temple workers would be by shortly to collect our finished works, and offered an arm to Willow. Normally, the field workers brought in the full baskets, but since these baskets are for the Rite, the Temple workers would come to collect them so that they did not get contaminated.

Thank you, darling. We need to get back promptly so we have plenty of time to wash and dress. We couldn’t possibly enjoy the festivities smelling like the fields, with our hands stained like this. Willow always wanted to look her best for every occasion.

I did too, if I was being honest, it was just that I usually ended up looking barely presentable instead of the striking beauty she always ended up being. Not that I minded too much, I was more interested in what delicacies would be there than whose eye I would attract for a dance.

Though I loved to dance, I usually didn’t get selected as a partner. I secretly thought it was because I didn’t have my own set of wings, and many of the dances required the use of them. Since I never had any wings, I just modified the dances for ground use.

Drake escorted us back to the hut Willow and I shared, and the two of them said their until later’s while I went to the kitchen to get some water. They hardly got time to be alone, and this was the best I could do. The men weren’t allowed into any female hut and the women were only allowed to visit in the men’s huts, if they had a female chaperone.

The Annarii had very strict rules and the Elite, or those in training to be Elites, were held to even higher standards. No one with loose morals or poor ethics was permitted into the Elite training program.

So, Drake and Willow took what they could when they could, always within the limits of the rules the Elders set in place.

I cleared my throat as I walked back into the entryway as a warning that their time was up. Straightening, Drake kissed her forehead, and after telling us he would return in two hours’ time to escort us to the party, bowed to us both, turned and left.

As Willow closed the door, she turned towards me with the biggest grin on her face, and I felt a mild awkwardness at witnessing their intimacies. We headed upstairs to ready ourselves for the fun night ahead. It was going to be epic. I hoped.

Chapter 2

WE FINISHED GETTING ready about ten minutes early so we took the time to admire ourselves in the oversized full-length mirror in our shared sitting room. Willow was sporting a tight braided up-do that let her silky blonde locks fall in layers that she then lightly curled. Her emerald green eyes matched the exact shade of her wings, as all faeries’ eyes do, but she had added a little bit of soot underneath to make them pop, as she called it.

Her dress was a complex design of thinly cut pink and white silk strips, wrapped and layered around and through each other to somehow come together near her lower back, to be pinned so that they trailed along behind her. Every time she took a step, the strips of fabric parted and flashed her legs. She looked fabulous and ready to party. Drake was going to need a dip in the waterfalls after tonight, which I assumed was exactly the reaction my best friend was going for.

I hardly ever knew what to do with my hair. The colour was nice enough, auburn and wavy throughout. I was good at styling others’ hair but I lacked the skill to do my own, so I usually ended up letting it flow down my back. For the party tonight however, I opted for braiding the sides and having them loosely pinned together. At least it would keep my hair out of my face when it came time to eat.

Willow insisted I try putting some soot under my eyes as well and when I looked in the mirror, I had to admit that it did make my eyes pop. They definitely seemed larger and more brilliant. I always thought my eyes were my best feature, a deep sapphire blue that reminded me of the orchids Willow always had laid out fresh in our sitting room.

I wore a simple dress, silver silk that was sleeveless with a low dip in the back. It was tight fitting around the bodice then flowed from the waist to brush the ground. Sheer white voile draped across my neck and hung loose behind me. We took one last glance in the mirror after adding a light sprinkling of dew drops in our hair for effect; with a smile and a nod for each other, we headed downstairs to wait for our chaperone.

We hardly had to wait at all. Just after slipping into our matching silk slippers, Drake with his impeccable timing, probably due to his Elite training, was gently knocking on the front door exactly two hours from when we last saw him. Man, that guy was good. As I opened the door, Willow stepped into the entryway and I swear Drake’s eyes doubled in size at the sight of her.

Prompt as usual, my love. Willow said as she was swept up into his arms for an embrace that lasted a little too long to be decent.

Um, I hate to interrupt but we should probably get going.

Keeping my eyes averted to try and give them as much privacy as possible, I stepped past them out onto the porch.

Fell is right, my darling. If this goes on much longer, you can forget the party; I’d take you somewhere where no one would think to find us, and fig the consequences. he stated.

Giggling, Willow broke the embrace and stepped out next to me, closing the door behind her. Don’t be silly, Drake. You know neither one of us would do that. You have the Elites to think about and I have my reputation to consider. Besides, you know I can’t become a Priestess to the Goddess if you don’t first marry me, and then bed me.

That made both Drake and I blush. I just shrugged and started down the walk ahead of them, it didn’t bother me as much as I just didn’t care to listen to their plans yet again.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved them both dearly, and was very happy that the two of them had each other. Gods, they’ve had each other’s hearts since we were all kids running around the fields without a care in the world. It was just that I sometimes wished I had what they did. They were so perfect for each other. Like a true gentleman with a lady, that man would do anything for her at any time. I’m sure it would go both ways, but I’ve never seen him ask for anything from her, save for her affections.

When I glanced back, they were just finishing up their conversation and turning to follow me. From the look in Drake’s eyes, I had no doubt that he meant every word he said to my best friend on the porch. Luckily though, cooler heads prevailed, and they quickly caught up to me.

Isn’t it a gorgeous night, Fell? she asked as she linked her arm in mine.

Why yes, it is actually. Hardly a breeze a tall. It’s absolutely perfect for dancing the night away in the Grand Hall. Do you think the whole village is invited to this one? I turned to Drake, who was a few steps behind us.

No, this one is only for the graduates. Of course, the Elders and temple workers will be there and nearly all of the Elite guard as well. But as for the rest of the village, it’s business as usual.

He was also dressed to impress tonight. Wearing black silk pants and a surprisingly matching shade of pink silk sash over his right shoulder, and having the ends pinned near the left hip, as was typical male dress in our village for a get-together, he looked very striking indeed. He opted out of the traditional silk slippers one would wear to these events, instead going with the preferred footwear of the Elite; a pair of fern woven shoes lined with cottonwood and dyed black. They were more practical if a situation was to arise and he needed to leave on a mission.

WE ARRIVED AT THE GRAND Hall, situated at the end of the main thoroughfare next to the Temple of the Ancients, and stopped to admire the view. The hall was brightly lit with the glow of a thousand candles nestled in the chandeliers and sconces, and you could hear the low din of the growing partygoers mingling inside. The fifteen-foot high hand carved oak doors stood wide open at the top of the marble stairway, inviting all to join the festivities.

I