Daisy

“My name is Daisy,” she stammers, dipping into a polite curtsey, her wide green eyes flickering nervously.

“Hi, Daisy. How long were you watching me?” I ask, a wave of embarrassment suddenly hitting me as I recall floating naked in the river just moments ago.

“Oh, not long! I promise, Lady Lenora, I didn’t see much!” Daisy’s face turns a vivid shade of red as she avoids eye contact, clearly flustered. But then, her lips curl into an awkward, bashful smile. “You see, I was searching for blossom berries when I saw this brilliant light shining from the direction of the river. I got closer, and it was… it was you.” She hesitates, then adds in a rush, “I may have peeked at your… your, um, boobs, but I didn’t mean to! I swear, I’m so sorry!”

Her pale cheeks are now crimson, her face glowing with embarrassment. I can’t help it—a burst of laughter escapes me before I can stop it. Daisy’s eyes widen in horror as though she fears she’s offended me beyond repair.

Realizing her discomfort, I extend my hand toward her in an attempt to reassure her, but she flinches, cowering back with her arms covering her face. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! Please don’t punish me!”

Shocked by her reaction, I immediately pull my hand back, my laughter dying in my throat. “Daisy, calm down,” I say gently, my voice softening. “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. I was just offering my hand as a greeting.”

Her wide eyes peek out from behind her arms, and slowly, she uncovers her face. I give her a reassuring smile, and after a moment, she smiles back—though I can still see the pain lingering deep in her eyes. It makes my heart ache for her. She seems so sweet, yet there’s a sadness about her that tugs at my chest.

“It’s lovely to meet you,” she says after a pause, her voice tentative. “But you really scared me! It’s very dangerous to be caught by the dark sorcerer’s ravens. I… I wasn’t sure if you were one of them, especially with that magnificent dress you’re wearing.”

I glance down, realizing I’m still in my ice-formed dress, its sleek, shimmering surface more like armor than clothing. “Oh,” I mutter, suddenly understanding why I might have looked intimidating. With a clap, I let the ice melt back into water and swirl it away, replacing it with my comfortable purple baby doll dress.

Daisy’s eyes go wide again as she watches the transformation. “What… what sort of magic is that, Lady Lenora?” she asks in awe.

I grin at her, waving a hand dismissively. “Please, just call me Lenora. That was fairy magic.”

Her jaw practically drops. “F-fairy magic? But… but that’s impossible! Fairy magic hasn’t existed for over 2,000 years. I’m a fairy, but we’re not magical anymore… not really. We live long lives, but that’s about it. Now, we’re nothing but slaves to the dark sorcerer.” Her voice falters as she speaks, and her shoulders slump under the weight of those words.

A heavy silence settles between us. My chest tightens at the thought of the fairies being stripped of their magic, their spirits crushed under the rule of someone so vile. I bite my lip, feeling a sharp pang of sympathy for Daisy and her kind.

Suddenly, a loud gurgling sound breaks the silence. It’s coming from Daisy’s stomach. She shifts uncomfortably, her cheeks flushing once again. “When did you last eat, Daisy?” I ask gently, concern creeping into my voice.

She shuffles her feet, her eyes downcast. “I haven’t been able to find any berries this week… so my last meal was about a week ago.” She pauses, glancing around nervously before continuing, her voice barely above a whisper. “All of the plants and food we gather are taken by the dark sorcerer. If we’re caught sneaking even a single bite, we’re punished… severely. The ravens make sure of that. We can’t die from starvation, but we feel it. We feel the hunger. We grow weak.”

Her words send a rush of anger through me, and my hands clench into fists at my sides. How could anyone be so cruel? To starve innocent beings, to crush their magic and spirit until they’re reduced to mere shadows of their former selves? I can feel my blood boiling, but I force myself to stay calm for Daisy’s sake. Losing control now would only frighten her more.

“Daisy…” I begin softly, my voice steady, though the fury inside me rages like a storm. “I’m going to help you. I promise.”