The night settled into place on the farm, I could hear the call of crickets and other nocturnal insects in full force once the moon began her journey across the sky. Hans stayed in the barn and Gretchen brought him a bowl of soup and some bread their grandma had made earlier this week. I finally learned their reasoning that he didn’t sleep in the house during the summer.

In the summer months he stayed in the barn to protect the animals from predators that travel back up the mountains during the warmer months along with the fae beasts that would wander up as well.

“Will Hans be heading to the festival?” I asked after the second night. She shook her head. “He’s more of a loner anyway, he says that if it wasn’t for the fact I get distracted by Alex, he would just let me do the selling every week.” She perked up. “But with you helping to manage, he doesn’t have to worry so much about me forgetting to work the stall.”

“So, I’m free labor?” She flushed. “No!” I laughed, feeling the air cool over my teeth with the intake. “I know I’m not, sides I get paid to basically people watch and draw, my favorite things in the world.” She grinned. “Well, get some sleep. Tomorrow, we have to head back into town to pick up fabric for the festival dresses.” She shoved me into my room, closing the door. Boyd chirped from his spot on my bed, eyes gleaming as he saw me. I sat down, my body tensing when I heard a low growl near my window. I was reminded of old legends from the mountains I grew up in nearby. I fixed my pillow, undressed and laid away from the window. Boyd chose to stare at the window, tail flicking.

In the distance I heard Edgar croak before there was a yowling yip from a fox. I buried my head under my pillow when there was an answering call, but it was wrong, like something I just knew was not right about it. I curled up when there was the sound of something thrashing in the distance, the wounded call of an animal breaking through as Edgar cawed, much closer to the window.

Morning came with bird calls and I felt like I hadn’t slept at all. I fumbled through dressing, letting Boyd out where he caught his breakfast from the air. I stifled a yawn as I ate my own breakfast, hooking the two cows to the cart and stumbling onto the seat. Even the Nokken slid into the back near some empty crates. I dozed as we headed to the village, feeling myself warmed in the morning sun. We slowed near the gates, there I saw the familiar mustached man from before, eyeing him with mild disgust. He met my gaze and sneered. Gretchen shivered.

“Don’t worry, most people can’t stand him, it’s just unnerving the Northern army has come down here, we’re the furthest village south before you get to the Southern Lands.” I quickly wrote that down, my words getting jumbled from the bumpy road.

“Why?” I asked as I stepped down. “I guess it’s the Fae courts, but they have always had a courteous relationship.” There was a horse-like snort from the Nokken, he had the decency to look more human like, his hair shaggy and colored a dark cool brown unlike mine, his skin turned a slight olive undertone while I was copper. But other than that, he resembled a face I haven't seen in years that made my heart ache. The teeth were still sharp though.

“Rumor has it that the North found something that the Fae didn’t like and in retaliation, the Fae took the only true heir to the throne.” He sneered at a couple of blushing women.

“What’s with the ‘whole only women can inherit the throne of the North’ thing anyway?” He frowned.

“You speak weird.” I growled, signing the words repeatedly as I went though the question in my head before answering. “It’s normal where I’m from!” He flicked my forehead. I rubbed the spot.

“Because the North is seen as the spiritual capital of the continents, women are much better at controlling the spiritual energy then men hence why you can’t show off your powers or you would get taken. It’s bad enough you bare likeness to the previous queen.” He tossed a cloak at me and I pulled the fabric away from my face while silently mouthing all the curse words I knew at him. We ended up at the gate and disembarked, waiting to get checked through by the guards. The Nokken grinned, cupping his ear.

“What’s that? Can’t hear you.” I glared at him and lifted my leg, aiming at a hard kick right above their knee. The high-pitched squealing had me grinning as he kneeled, cupping the injured area. We hurried along and he hobbled after us, curses billowing from his mouth with a bit of spittle.

“You damn wench!” Gretchen looped an arm through mine as I flipped him the bird. “Watch the cart please!” She called over her shoulder. She gave a curious look at me flipping him the bird and I explained as we were checked through. She attempted it a few times, not fully bending her fingers but managed a decent one, even if her pinky was sticking out a bit. She rubbed her inner wrist, wincing slightly.

We went to a shop first, Gretchen pulling several fabrics free and placing them against my shoulders. Most felt like cotton but a few were like satin.

“Hmm, earthy and neutral look best on you, but I really like this dark green.” It was a softer feeling cotton than the rest. She placed the rest back on the shelves. “A full apron skirt and a white top. I can ask Belgio about metal.”

I was a doll, a dress-up doll to her.

We got a couple feet of the fabric with a sheer one in a lighter shade and detailing vines and flowers.

“To Margret’s!” Margret as it turned out was a friend of Gretchen, since the regular shops would be too full of other orders and backed up until the day of the festival, Margret was willing to help me with sewing my outfit together in the comfort of her cute little house. It was near the edge of the village, way closer to the river and situated on stilts to protect it from the rising waters during the early springs when the melting snow, high up in the mountains caused flooding in the valley we resided in.

She was a bit older than Gretchen, with golden brown hair streaked with lighter blonde and a slight baby bump. She was quick to help with measurements and even begin embroidering the bodice part and ends in daisies and poppies. The bright red and white thread contrasted nicely with the dark green fabric. I worked until it was nearing dusk, happy about the progress already. I was planning on wearing pants underneath anyway. Margret was more than happy to help with the pants, saying her brothers grew often and quickly so she handed some to me to try on and work on hemming, marking with a bit of graphite where it needed to be adjusted.

 ***

My stitching was a bit messy, Gretchen giggling softly while commenting how I could make minute details with my drawings but couldn't work a needle through cloth as easily when she arrived with Alex, I had managed to poke my fingers a few times and now sported several bandages thanks to my mistakes. Alex, sporting braids now in a twisting spiral design around their scalp, lightly pinched her ear to chastise her.

“Gingersnaps, remember when I first started out with book binding? Be nice.” I motioned to their head, marveling at the braids, cornrows if I remembered.

“Oh, my mom wants me to look my best for the festival so I compromised with her, hair done in braids so it looks nice while I get to wear pants.” I stared at them, confused about the pants part.

“I am a woman under my clothing but prefer looking more and being like a man, hence, no headscarf.” I nodded. Were they trans? It probably wasn’t my place to really ask, I wasn’t Gretchen, or anyone that Alex should feel this concerns their gender identity. I do hope they weren’t seen as too different just because they liked being a man despite their society’s notions deeming them a girl. But what did this world's society think about the trans members it housed? Or any member of the LGBTQ+ community? Home was a mixed bag, especially when you were a person of color, I kinda wish I looked into it more before I wound up here. 

I looked at them, seeing a soft, hopeful looking smile.

“I consider you a man, Alex.” I signed, they smiled and ruffled my hair.

“Thanks, girlie.” Gretchen gently knocked our heads together. “Alex is Alex to me, I’ve grown up with them and loved them for who they are.” I felt my heart swell at the sweet phrase and couldn't help blushing a little at the cuteness displayed. I do wonder why they often hide away from the village though.