Yucca Magazine #9

TO THE READER

“Everything you can imagine is real” Pablo Picasso

The Gift

A howling wind accompanies the soft patter of snow-covered boots, before the slam of a door returns the previous stillness. A young girl shivers as she dusts off the snow and lowers her hood, eyes wide as she takes in the vast entrance of the old castle she stands in. “Hello?” She calls out, her voice echoing through the cold halls. “I’m sorry to barge in like this, but the storm…” she trails off. Silence responds. The old castle resonates with emptiness. It stands, ancient, cold and alone in a field of snow as far as the eye can see. A shiver rolls down her spine, a ghost of a warning, yet she cannot turn back. The wind howls through the cracks around the oak door behind her and she shivers again. She steels herself, and ventures forth into the dark halls. “Helllooo?” She calls again, a faint smile dancing across her lips as her voice echoes down the halls. With soft, furtive movements, she darts through the halls and rooms, searching for the inhabitants. As she searches, she begins to imagine the time the castle teemed with life. The chatter of court as the king listened to his people, the hurried bustle of the maids as they ensured every inch of the old stone building remained spick and span. The warmth of the fires that would keep out the cold of the storm, the smell of freshly baked pastries, a banquet for every meal… Something tickles her nose. She slows her steps. Closing her eyes and breathing deeply, she inhales. She can smell the pastries. Perhaps the castle is not as abandoned as she’d first thought. The scent of honey and berries crosses her nose and her stomach rumbles with an urgency she didn’t know she had. She sets off after the elusive scent. The girl finds herself in the kitchen, and there, atop the counter, is a platter of freshly baked tarts, stream curling from their golden crusts. “Hello?” She calls once more, slowly shuffling up to the food. Silence answers her call, but her stomach grumbles in rejoinder. The girl considers the platter. She knows it’s wrong to steal, but there are so many tarts - surely whomever made them wouldn’t miss one? With tentative hands, she reaches out to pluck one from the plate, Her mouth starts watering as she brings it close, and with delicious relish, takes a bite. Her eyes light up with a sparkle as crumbs and jam smear her face. “I’ve never tasted anything so good!” She can’t help but exclaim, greedily taking another large bite. All too soon the tart is demolished, and the others are far too tempting to ignore. One tart becomes two, then three, then four… until before she knows it, she’s eaten the whole platter. “Uh, none left…” she mumbles sadly, then gasps, remembering herself. “Ah, I ate them all!” Sticky hands fly to her face as she worriedly looks around. A quiet giggle suddenly bursts from the room, echoing around her. “Who’s there? I can hear you, I’m sorry I ate the tarts.” The giggle grows louder, then beads of light dash across her vision. For a moment, she wonders if she is dreaming as the lights whizz around her. “Fairies” she whispers to herself in an awed hush. “Now you can see us!” The tiny voices cheer as the girl stares. “Do you like them?” They chant and sing, dashing about. The girl is stunned, silent. “Did you not?” “No. I mean yes, I liked them,” she stutters. “Hooray!” “I’m sorry,” she suddenly cries, bowing her head. “I didn’t mean to barge in, and steal your food, please forgive me.” “It’s okay!” “We haven’t had a visitor in ages!” “It’s been so long!” “Really?” The girl blinks. “You must have been lonely; this castle feels so abandoned.” “The people left a long time ago.” “But we stayed.” “So, we look after it now.” “How can I thank you for the food and shelter?” “We don’t need anything.” “There must be something I can do…” “Well...” “There is one thing.” “Really, what?” The girl brightens. “You could give us a gift!” “The best gift!” “The gift of a bond, of a warm heart!” At the girl’s confused face, they giggle and cry as one. “Be our friend silly!” “Oh!” The girl chirps, grinning wide. “I’ll be your friend!” The fairies dance and spin as the girl feels a warmth grow inside her chest. Her heart beats in time with the fae dance, and suddenly, the castle doesn’t seem so cold and empty anymore. Outside, the storm stills. And a new day dawns.