The soft pitter-pattering of Summer rain and bare feet danced through my mind. Hummingbirds drank from a bowl of honeyed water sitting next to me, unfazed by my presence. It was with gentle rhapsody that their bodies reverberated. My peppermint tea washed over my own anxious reverberations. A villager would be coming by soon, for an order placed roughly a week ago. They had wanted three beads, in the shape of round, dotted beetles. I thought it was too easy.

I spotted the villager tentatively making their way along the forest path, through the Fae who soon came to stop playing. She was older than I had expected, with short graying hair and a somewhat willowy figure, adorned with amulets and trinkets unfamiliar to me, including a round hairpin that looked like a large beetle. One of the House Elves shouted in excitement and offered her a cherry blossom. Bending down, she accepted the offering, and her hair turned the color of the blossom.

This was no ordinary villager. She bowed when she approached me.

“My name is Ceiriosen, but you may call me Ceirios.”

Her name was Fae in nature, and caught me by surprise. The hummingbirds were unfazed by her arrival, as well, and the hairpin revealed a pointed ear. Unease swept over me.

“You don’t have to tell me your name. However, since you’re a client, my name is Fawn.”

Ceirios nodded silently, and I handed her the beads. As soon as they dropped into her hand, they positioned themselves on her wrist like an animated bracelet. She certainly was full of surprises, I had only made them out of wood and her touch seemed to bring them to life. The rain fell harder.

“May I come in?” She asked.

Ceiriosen. Her features were soft, angular, with a dash of youthful playfulness. Eyes brown and heavy with the promise of knowledge held only by ancient trees. And as we sat next to one another in front of my fireplace, her hair began to blacken everywhere but the edges. She tossed me a charming smile, one with emotion ever-changing.

She was not a calm Fae. She fidgeted, fumbled, and spoke too fast. It soon became apparent what use all of her trinkets were. Some were to fidget with, such as the beetles I had made. Some released a calming energy, and some were just for decoration.

“You must meet quite a lot of craftspeople,” I commented. She looked slightly alarmed.

“Not all of… Not all of these are made by others.”

I raised an eyebrow. If she meant that she made some of the trinkets, I’d be impressed. They were all quite complicated and detailed. She ran her hand over the beetles again before continuing. She explained that in her travels, she discovered a ring that would slowly turn things into a wooden version of themselves. She gestured to the cherry blossom sitting on her leg. It was already browning at the edges, and when she picked it up it was stiff as if it had been pressed. I was amazed.

“May I see the ring?” I asked. She held her hand up to me, revealing a ruby charm that seemed to branch out and connect to a bracelet on her wrist. Everything about it seemed mystical. I asked where exactly she had come across it.

“Far, far to the East,” She murmured, “It came from an ancient place secluded in my homeland. Legend has it that serpents the size of oak trees would roam the skies above that land, and that this ring was a gift passed through the hands of many travelers.”

She paused a moment, taking in the cabin.

“Too bad you aren’t a traveler,” She said with a wink.

I laughed, “I travel from time to time. A wild spirit gets restless staying in one place for too long, but it’s always a nice feeling to come home.”

She heaved a long sigh. I got the impression that she wasn’t used to having a home. I followed her gaze to the door. The rain was easing off, the clouds parting for the sun to shimmer and reflect off the grass. She sipped the last of her tea and rose.

“I should get going now. Do you know of any villages near?”

“Cliff’s End, just over a mile northeast from here. If you need me to accompany you…?”

“I’d like that,” She said, already rushing out the door. Alarmed, I grabbed my satchel and started after her.

She explained that she gets antsy if she stays inside for too long. I supposed it made sense, for a traveling Fae. Without the tea to mask my sense of smell, I realized her scent was intoxicating. Sweet and soft, almost like honey vanilla tea. She glanced back at me while we were walking and smiled.

“I appreciate this, Fawn.”

“Of course! I enjoy helping out travelers, it gives me a break from routine.”