WeatherMaker Hearts Desire Prologue
Chapter 58: Early Mornings

‘It may take a few days to a few weeks to heal’ Amaia was saying to the old man, winding the bandage around his leg to limit any movement that might cause further damage. ‘Rest and keep your leg as still as possible, especially in these first few days. Keep your leg raised’ she said tying up the bandage, ‘and supported on a pillow as much as possible, it will help reduce any swelling.’ She rose to her feet. ‘How do you feel?’

‘Much better thanks to you’ the old man chuckled foolishly at her. ‘I’m very grateful for your help.’

‘Do you need me to help assist you back home?’ Amaia asked him.

‘No no’ the old man waved at her. ‘I’ll be quite alright.’

‘Please take this’ Amaia said to him, moving away quickly as she headed to another room, returning moments later with a crutch in her hands.

‘Now really’ the man hastened, ‘there’s no need…’

‘I know you don’t want it’ Amaia said offering it to him, but you can’t hop all the way home, and I doubt you wish to be carried.’

The man faltered at this.

‘Take it’ Amaia said, presenting it to him. ‘You’ll be glad later that you did.’

‘Thank you miss’ the man bowed his head, taking the crutch reluctantly and holding it in the correct position beneath his arm as he rose gingerly to his feet. ‘I feel better already.’

‘Remember’ she added as the old man made to leave, ‘to fully recover as quickly as possible, you should do gentle exercises before trying anything too strenuous, or else you might make the injury worse.’

‘I’ll be sure to remember that’ the old man said, tipping his hat to her. ‘Thank you again, and good day.’

Amaia smiled at him, holding the door open as he hobbled awkwardly out of the house.

She watched him go, still holding the grin on her face.

‘How does such an old man suffer a hamstring injury’ White Feather said from behind her. ‘What on earth was he doing? I’d love to know.’

‘Work on the farm isn’t easy’ Amaia said, closing the door. ‘Even the very old must do it if they want to eat.’

‘Still…’ White Feather said in a distant voice, staring hard into the door as if he could still see the old man hobbling away outside through the wood. ‘I’d love to know.’

‘If you’re that curious then why didn’t you ask him?’

‘Oh?’ White Feather gleamed slyly at her. ’That would spoil the mystery…that would spoil the fun.’

‘You’re ridiculous’ she shook her head at him.

‘And you’re cute!’ he squeaked.

He rushed up to her, giving her a quick squeeze, and poking her on the end of the nose.

‘How delightful’ he giggled.

‘Are you two at it again?’ Anya asked as she entered the room. ‘I know you said before that you were not in love, but you can’t keep your hands off each other.’

‘No’ Amaia hastened, blushing furiously. ‘Its...it’s not like that!’

’I do love her’ White Feather told Anya, hugging Amaia again. ‘As a sister as a mother as a daughter as a friend…as a….as a….’ he smiled. ‘Companion…’ he finished, leaning into her and closing his eyed contentedly.

’He can’t keep his hands off me’ Amaia interjected, returning to Anya’s point.

‘You never complained about it before’ White Feather whispered teasingly into her ear, leaning heavily on her shoulders.

‘Stand up straight’ she told him. ‘I can’t take your weight.’

He gave her a quick peck on the cheek before straightening up again, smirking happily at her as Anya giggled at the both of them.

‘I love your interactions’ Anya said to them calming, ‘the both of you bring so much joy to our home. We’re so happy to have you both here…and for so long.’

‘Well it’s good to know you haven’t grown tired of us’ White Feather bowed to her.

‘We could never’ Anya sighed happily back. ‘I just wanted to tell you, you both have done such a huge amount for us in the short time you’ve been here. How is it that you know so much?’ she asked Amaia. ‘About healing?’

‘I…’ Amaia began awkwardly, ‘…learnt a lot in books.’

‘They must have been very good books indeed.’

‘Well’ Amaia smiled shyly, holding her hand behind her back and hunching her shoulders. ‘I had a lot of time to study them.’

‘Well we’re very grateful’ Anya nodded to her. ‘It’s very good to have such a skilled healer in our little village.’

‘I’m glad you think so’ Amaia said. ‘I’m just grateful to be able to help. I always wanted to care for others, when I was little I used to bring animals home and care for them if they were injured. I brought a baby bird home once that had fallen out of its nest. It was named Yayew.’

‘I never realised you enjoyed helping animals so much.’

‘I get the same satisfaction from helping people’ Amaia smiled.

‘In that case I have a job for you. One of the horses has cut itself on a barbed wire fence and needs some attention before the injury gets any worse. Can you do that?’

‘Of course’ Amaia nodded eagerly. ‘I’ll be right there.’

She gathered all the things she might need in a bag, and left the house in a hurry, in her haste bumping into a figure along the way and nearly knocking herself over.

‘Simon’ she gasped, gathering herself. ‘I’m so sorry, please excuse me.’

‘Wait a minute!’ he shouted after her as she made to leave.

‘I’m a bit busy I’m afraid’ she called back to him, barely pausing to speak. ‘I can’t stop.’

‘When are you not busy?’ he persisted.

‘Another time Simon’ she waved to him. ‘Bye now!’

She didn’t see the way his shoulders slumped and the disappointment on his face as she made her way onwards. White Feather did though, as he sat on her shoulder shrunken in size, completely invisible to all but Amaia. The man’s sadness really bothered him; he didn’t know why at first, but after a few seconds of thought he realised.

It’s because it was genuine.

White Feather faced Amaia, wondering if he should say something, but thought better of it. Her mind was elsewhere now, on more immediate tasks.

She came to the field where the injured horse was, seeing a deep gash in its flank.

‘Poor thing’ Amaia cooed, putting her bag down.

She approached the horse slowly, moving with her arms open to make sure it saw her so that she didn’t startle it.

The horse allowed her to approach, and Amaia looked at the wound.

‘It shouldn’t be too hard to fix’ she said out loud. ‘I’ll have this done in no time.’

She took the horse to the edge of the field and tied it with a rope to the fence so that it could not move around too much. Then she proceeded to clean the wound, applied a paste to dull the pain, and began to sow it up.

White Feather watched her as she worked, growing bored after a time and finding fun in distracting her.

‘White Feather!’ Amaia scolded, flicking at him as he swung back and forth before her face, hanging onto a section of her hair as he did so. ‘Will you behave yourself, you’re like a naughty child.’

‘I only want you to smile’ he said in his defence. ‘You were making the most ridiculous face earlier as you worked with that needle. If the weather changes when you’re frowning like that, then you’ll be stuck like that forever.’

‘That’s just and old wives tale’ Amaia sighed in amusement.

‘It’s ok now’ White Feather beamed up at her as he stood on her open palms, leaning forward and touching her lips, ‘because now you are smiling.’

She lifted her hands closer to her face, nuzzling into him as he giggled back at her.

‘I love you, you silly little thing.’

‘I love you too’ he replied, awash inside with emotion.

‘Come on’ she said, dropping her hands and letting him float in the air before her, wings fluttering. ‘We’ve got work to do on the farm.’

They returned to the home they now shared with Anya and Roy, dropping off the bag Amaia had brought with her. White Feather returned to his original size, making himself visible again.

‘How is the horse?’ Anya spoke up.

‘He’s fine’ Amaia replied. ‘I’ve cleaned the wound and sewn it, but it will take time to heal.’

‘Thank you’ Anya said gratefully.

‘I’d remove the barbed wire in that field though’ Amaia added. ’Or else the same thing might happen again.

‘I’ll do it’ Roy said, rising from his seat at the table. ‘I’ll go now.’

He gave her a pat on the shoulder as he went by, smiling kindly at her. Amaia felt warmth in her heart as he did this, feeling a strong bond between them. She was truly happy here, and felt at home.

‘What are you doing now?’ Anya asked her when Roy had gone.

‘The field needs clearing, the fences need fixing’ Amaia began, ‘eggs from the chickens need to be collected, the apples need picking, the cows need milking….so much to do…so much to do….’

‘Well don’t stay out too late’ Anya told her. ‘I’m cooking a lovely meal and I’d hate for you to miss it or have to eat it cold.’

‘But Anya’ Amaia said, ‘your meals are always lovely.’

‘Oh stop’ Anya waved her away. ‘Now hurry and do whatever it is you need to do before it gets dark. We’ve only got a few more hours of light left now.’

Amaia nodded to her, grinning widely. She hurried back outside towards the shining sun, and went to find her first task.

Sometime later, she was kneeling before the broken fence with her green hair tied up and nails held in her mouth. She worked quickly to get the job done so she could move onto the next and get as much finished as possible before the day’s end.

Amaia glanced up briefly towards White Feather, who was in the middle of the field, entertaining a small hoard of children. They played games together and laughed and had fun, Amaia pausing for a moment to watch them, feeling content. All the children in the village loved White Feather; they seemed to gravitate towards him, finding his little quirks amusing.

White Feather caught one of the children, tickling her as she made to flee, before lifting her up and putting her on his shoulders. She giggled, grabbing him by his ears as he held her feet to stop her falling off.

‘How’s the view up there?’ White Feather called to her.

‘I love it!’ the girl giggled back. ‘I wish I was always this tall.’

‘You will be one day.’

‘But I want it now.’

He laughed at that. The other children around him played with the toys he had made for them. Little butterflies made out of painted feathers and attached to wires so that they danced in the breeze, colourful ribbons tied to the ends of sticks, beautiful wheels painted in bright colours that they chased down the hill.

Amaia returned her attention back to the fence, placing the nail over the correct spot, and hammering it in, careful to not hit her fingers.

She continued to work for many minutes without interruption, until something happened. There was a loud bang, a scream from a horse, and the shed near the centre of the field collapsed. The loud bang had sounded like a firecracker. White Feather had none on him, the children weren’t allowed them, but some of the older ones in the group were more mischievous.

Amaia dropped what she was doing, rising slowly to her feet and staring at the fallen shed. She suddenly felt a great pain in her legs and waist, though there was nothing around her that caused it. And then she noticed with a jolt to the heart, that White Feather was trapped beneath the fallen shed, lying on his front with his legs trapped.

She ran to him as fast as she could, falling to her knees before him.

‘White Feather!’ grabbed the beam that trapped him, trying hard to lift it. The children behind her watched silently, none of them had been hurt.

‘White Feather!’ Amaia cried, her voice shaking. ‘White Feather, grow smaller!’

‘I can’t’ he gasped, the dust from the earth around his mouth was blown back as he breathed. ‘Not when I’m in pain…’

‘I’ll get you out’ she said, her voice breaking, ‘I have to.’

She rose to her feet, trying with all her might to lift the beam off him. White Feather turned his head towards her, cheek resting on the ground, smiling up at her as she struggled.

‘It’s ok’ he said calmly to her. ‘Don’t panic. Please.’

‘I should be the one comforting you’ she shot back. ‘You dam fool.’ She turned to the children behind her, calling out to them. ‘Quickly! Go get help!’

They instantly scattered, and Amaia returned her attention back to the beam, shaking with the effort to move it, as she did so, her fingers bled. But despite her best attempts, she could only lift the beam a few inches, before dropping it again.

‘Damit I’m not strong enough’ she sobbed. ‘I can’t move it!’

White Feather smiled at her again with gentle eyes, reaching out a hand and grasping her arm lightly.

‘Be still’ he said to her. ‘I’ll be alright.’

‘White Feather…’

‘What are we eating tonight anyway?’

‘W-what?’

‘I’m getting hungry’ he said watching her. ‘What are we eating?’

‘I don’t know’ she laughed through her tears, unable to stop herself. ‘You say the silliest of things…’

‘There’ he said smiling at her, ‘that was all I wanted.’

Amaia realised with shock that she was smiling too. She let out a sigh and sat back on her heels, kneeling on the ground beside White Feather.

‘Are you ok?’ she whispered to him. ‘It doesn’t hurt too much does it?’

‘We’ll…’ White Feather began, ‘I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been in more comfortable positions.’

Amaia couldn’t stop herself from smiling at him and shaking her head in amusement.

She stiffened slightly then, seeing a figure running towards them, followed by the children. The figure was Simon.

‘What’s happened here?’ he asked out of breath, skidding to a stop.

‘Silly man’ White Feather shot at him before Amaia could speak. ‘I would have thought it was obvious.’

‘Please help him’ Amaia begged. ‘Please.’

‘And take your time’ White Feather added speaking to the dirt as he rested his head on the ground, watching an ant go by. ‘Really. I’m not in any particular rush to be anywhere.’

Simon stood over him, bending down and grasping the wooden beams with both hands and heaving, groaning with the effort as he lifted.

White Feather grasped Amaia by the arm and she pulled him forwards, helping him up as Simon held the beam for as long as he could, letting it fall back down when White Feather had crawled out.

‘Are you ok?’ Amaia breathed, fussing over him.

‘Yes’ White Feather gasped, resting in his side, propped up on an elbow. ‘I just…need to rest here a while.’

‘How did this happen?’ Simon asked, kneeling beside them.

‘One of the horses got spooked by the firecracker’ White Feather said, ‘and panicked, rearing and falling into the shed as he fled. Luckily the horse is fine’ he finished. ‘It ran away.’

’Unlucky that you were hurt’ Simon spoke firmly.

‘Oh don’t worry about me’ White Feather chuckled. ‘Just pretend that I am not here. I don’t want to cause a fuss.’

‘Do you want me to carry you home?’ Simon offered.

‘No no’ White Feather hastened. ‘I can walk by myself. Just…let me rest here a while.’

‘I was so frightened for you’ Amaia said weakly to him once they returned home a short while later.

They were upstairs in Annabel’s old bedroom.

It had begun to grow dark outside. White Feather had refused help to be carried home, instead getting up on his own and walking slowly between Amaia and Simon who escorted him.

‘I was so terrified…’ Amaia sobbed, ‘so upset to see you get hurt.’

‘I know’ White Feather said. ‘I could feel your emotions inside me. I knew how scared you were. I knew exactly how you felt.’

‘You just mean so much to me, losing you would be the worst thing that could happen to me now.’

‘Don’t you worry about me’ White Feather gleamed at her with confidence. ‘I’ll not leave your side.’

Amaia raised her head, looking at him properly now. ‘You’re a fairy’ she said, ‘a magical being with abilities that are rare and wonderful. But today…I saw…that you are also just a man. You can age, die, feel pain…I thought for some time that for some reason you might be different…but you are just like me…more human than….than…’ she broke off.

‘Magic doesn’t change who we are’ White Feather told her.

‘I know that now’ Amaia spoke to the floor, ‘you feel and same joys and fears as I do. You were scared earlier when you were trapped under that beam, but despite that, you chose to stay strong for me.’

‘I wasn’t scared’ White Feather said.

‘Yes you were’ Amaia said, meeting his gaze again. ’I could feel your fear inside of me, as you can feel my emotions…today I felt yours.’

White Feather blinked curiously, he opened his mouth to speak, but could think of nothing to say. So he simply smiled.

‘I don’t know how I knew these feelings were coming from you’ Amaia went on, ‘but I just knew. They felt different, though…I can’t explain how.’

‘It feels the same for me too’ White Feather added. ‘I know which emotions I feel are mine, and which are yours, call it instinct if you will.’

Amaia smiled weakly at that. ‘I didn’t know I could feel your emotions’ she spoke softly.

‘The bond between fairies and their Weather Makers is always strong’ White Feather told her. ‘But it’s different for each individual.’

‘I’m just glad you’re ok’ Amaia said.

‘Me too’ White Feather winked at her. ‘If anything happened to me, who would look after you?’

He ruffled her hair then, making it as messy as possible as Amaia tried to escape from him, squealing and giggling in protest. They stopped suddenly, as they noticed another figure had entered the room.

‘I’m sorry’ Simon voiced, taking off his hat and holding it awkwardly before him in both hands. ‘I didn’t mean to interrupt or bother either of you. I just wanted to make sure that you were both ok.’

‘I’m absolutely fine now’ White Feather sang happily to him, ‘thanks to you and your large muscles.’

Simon redden slightly at that.

‘Thank you so much for helping him’ Amaia said, facing him as she rose to stand. ‘I’m so happy you came.’

‘Really?’ Simon asked hopefully. ‘You were?’

Amaia cocked her head curiously at him, but didn’t reply.

‘I…’ Simon began uncertainly. ‘You’re…I mean….Anya has asked me to sit with you….to join you all for the evening dinner, here…that she cooked. She just sent me up here to tell you it’s ready.’

‘Thank you Simon’ Amaia said. ‘We’ll both be down in a moment.’

‘Right’ he said. ‘I um…see you.’

He left quickly without another word.

‘He loves you, you know that?’ White Feather sighed into his palm as he leant on an elbow.

‘Can you feel his emotions too?’ Amaia asked.

‘I can only feel the emotions of other Weather Makers’ White Feather replied. ’But I don’t need to feel his emotions to know how he feels. It’s obvious.’

‘Yeah’ Amaia mumbled, staring at the closed door. ‘It is.’

‘Hm?’ White Feather straightened. ‘If you know how he feels then why do you always ignore and shrug off his affections? He’s been madly in love with you for months.’

‘It’s because I’m afraid’ Amaia said. ‘I’m afraid of loving, in case I have to leave this wonderful place, and leave behind all that I have grown to care for so deeply.’

‘Maybe we can stay here forever’ White Feather suggested. ‘Maybe we don’t ever have to leave.’

‘I hope we can stay’ Amaia said absently. ‘I really do. Nothing would make me happier.’

That evening as they ate their meal together, Simon sat in silence before his food, though Amaia could not help but notice, his eyes constantly flicking towards her. She ignored him.

‘I promise you I’m absolutely fine’ White Feather repeated for about the fifth time, addressing Roy and Anya’s concerns for him. ‘All I need is a good meal and I will be as good as new, like it never happened.’

‘Well we are not short on good meals here’ Anya said to him. ‘I just worry for you that’s all.’

‘Thank you’ White Feather nodded to her. ‘I worry for you too.’

‘There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you’ Roy said addressing Amaia, changing the subject suddenly. ‘You’ve done so much for us in the short time you’ve been here. Where did you learn such things?’ Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

‘Oh you know’ Amaia shrugged shyly, ‘books…’

‘That’s what Anya told me you said’ Roy chucked. ’But it couldn’t have been all from books. It would have taken you years and years to learn all the things that you know. You’re like the village healer now, so many come to you for help. And you can do so many other things. Did your mother teach you what you know?’

‘No’ Amaia said. ‘She didn’t.’

‘You’ve never really spoken much of your mother’ Anya mentioned to her, moving her attention away from White Feather. ‘What was she like? Was she a good person?’

‘Oh’ Amaia mumbled. ‘Yes. My mother loved me so much, she always told me so, every single day, and she used to hug me at every possible opportunity. I remember’ Amaia said smiling at her plate, ‘how much it used to annoy me sometimes. She used to tickle me, and whisper in my ear. She used to call me, ’my precious treasure’. All the time.’

Simon watched her silently as she spoke, eating his food slowly as he listened.

‘That sounds lovely’ Anya sighed. ‘Oh I remember when Annabel was here. She used to always wake us up early in the mornings playing her violin. We spent ages saving up for that thing, ever since she saw a group of gypsies play as they travelled through our village she’s wanted one.’

The table fell into an uneasy silence, as Roy and Anya stared at their plates sadly. Both thinking of their beloved daughter they had lost.

‘She may yet be found’ Amaia comforted.

Roy looked up from his plate smiling, though there were tears in his eyes. ‘As your father might yet be found too’ he said. ‘We’ve not lost hope.’

From across the table, Simon glanced tentatively towards Amaia, then away again.

‘More pork?’ White Feather offered to Anya.

‘No thank you dear’ Anya said. ‘I’ve had quite enough.’

Amaia sighed inwardly, thinking of the sadness Roy and Anya must feel to have lost their daughter so recently, and wishing there was something she could do to make things better.

Amaia had lost her mother, she knew she was dead. But Annabel was perhaps still alive, and if she was, then she was out there someone. Out in the world.

Amaia looked to the window. Beyond the sky was dark, and flecks of rain pattered against the glass.

Annabel may be out there somewhere Amaia thought, as my father.

She felt so helpless then.

What good are these powers I own if I cannot help the people I love?

Early the next day, Amaia leant against one of the fences, watching the sun coming up from its horizon.

‘This is a good place to be’ she said happily to White Feather who stood next to her.

‘That is it’ he nodded to her.

‘I’m glad to see you’ve fully recovered.’

‘Well, recovered enough anyway’ he said.

They stood side by side gazing across the farm and towards the sun, watching silently as it climbed higher into the sky.

Later that day, as Amaia went about her daily chores, she bumped into Simon again.

‘Hello’ he fumbled, as if he hadn’t expected to see her. ‘How are you?’

Amaia watched him for a moment, and then smiled.

‘I wish you didn’t care for me so much’ Amaia told him.

‘Why?’ Simon asked.

Amaia turned away from him.

‘I know your feelings for me’ she said. ‘I have done for a long time.’

‘I don’t want to bother you’ he said tentatively. ‘Please tell me if I’m bothering you.’

‘Tell me Simon’ Amaia spoke seriously facing him again, ‘have you ever lost anyone before?’

‘What?’

‘I’ve been here for nearly a year now’ she said, ‘and its beginning to feel like home.’

‘That’s good. Isn’t it?’

‘It is’ Amaia spoke slowly. ‘I think so anyway.’

‘You think…?’

‘I came here originally’ Amaia went on, ‘as you know, looking for my father. But…’ she trailed off.

‘You couldn’t find him.’

‘I don’t think that I ever will’ she said. ‘Not now.’

‘Does that make you sad?’

‘I don’t know’ Amaia confessed. ‘I guess it does. But…I haven’t seen him in so long……the passage of time…it does things to people, changes them.’

Amaia looked back at Simon.

‘I don’t know if things will ever go back to the way I wished they would be.’

Simon gave her a curious look.

‘You know Simon, how you’ve asked in the past…about my hair?’

‘Yes?’

‘Well…there’s a reason it’s the way it is.’

Amaia tugged lightly at a piece of her hair, glancing down at the light green colour.

‘One day’ Amaia began, ‘I fell into a bush. The colour of the leaves and the ivy turned my hair green.’

Simon frowned. ‘That makes no sense.’

‘Do you believe in magic?’ Amaia said to him, raising her head.

‘Magic?’ his eyes slid to the floor. ‘I don’t know what you mean?’

‘You know, things happening unnaturally, things that can be controlled.’

‘Like what?’

‘You mean you don’t believe in magic?’ Amaia asked him.

‘I’m saying’ Simon spoke slowly as he thought carefully; ‘I’ve never seen any before.’

Amaia lowered her eyes. ‘Would you like to?’

Simon watched her silently. Amaia looked back at him.

‘I’m not like other people you know.’

‘You shouldn’t say things like that.’

‘Listen to me’ Amaia interrupted. ‘I’m not like other people. I’m…different.’

Simon frowned at her unconvincingly. ‘Why are you telling me this?’

’I…for a long time, hoped that my father might return to this village, I hoped for a long time…that I might see him again. But it’s been nearly a year, and there has been no whisper of him. I feel now that I have lost him forever. How will I find him in this big wide world? Where would I even begin? I would have no chance; I wouldn’t even know where to begin.’ Amaia took a deep breath, scratching her sweaty palms. ‘I am telling you all of this, because I have decided, that I want to stay here, permanently.’

‘Really?’ Simon asked, perking up. ‘Do you mean it? You really want to stay?’

‘Yes. I want to start a new life here.’

‘What changed your mind?’

‘I…’ Amaia shrugged. ‘I thought that my father….’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t want to keep living in the past. If I do that, then I will never have a future. White Feather is happy here, I am happy here, and…well…’ she shrugged again. ‘I feel like I have gained another family.’

‘I’m so happy’ Simon cried jovially, grabbing both of Amaia’s hands and holding them tightly in his own. Amaia smiled with him.

‘Does that mean….that we could…?’

‘I have cared for you for a long time’ Amaia told him, ‘but I’ve been too afraid to show it.’

‘Really? You have? I mean…why?’

‘I’ve been scared of something bad happening’ Amaia shrugged. ‘I just…’

‘You don’t have to be scared of anything’ Simon told her. ‘I will look after you.’

He moved closer, lifting her chin up and leaning towards her.

‘No’ Amaia said sharply, stepping back suddenly. ‘I have to tell you something.’

Simon visibly deflated, shoulders sagging. ‘I thought you just said…’

‘Listen to me; I wanted to tell you something.’

‘Go on.’

‘If you saw something that you never saw before, would you believe it to be true? Would you believe your eyes?’

‘I suppose.’

‘In that case…I was talking about magic…earlier…’

‘Yes?’ Simon shook his head. ‘What has come over you today? Where is this all leading?’

‘Listen’ Amaia pressed. ‘I was saying, how I’m not like other people, how I’m…different.’

‘Yes?’

Amaia lowered her head. ‘I can prove it to you. You said that you have never seen magic before, but if you saw something for yourself, that you would believe it. Isn’t that right?’

‘Yes.’

‘In that case’ Amaia went on, picking a flower growing from a bush nearby, ‘I have something to show you.’

As she reached towards him with the flower, the thing began to frost over, its petals turned white.

Simon drew a sharp intake of breath, stepping back in shock.

‘What is this?’ he exclaimed.

‘Magic’ Amaia told him simply. ‘You said you would believe.’ She paused. ‘So do you?’

That lunchtime passed in awkward silence between Simon and Amaia, Anya and Roy having invited Simon over as a way to thank him for helping them on the farm, as had become habit since the day White Feather had been injured by the falling shed. White Feather on the other hand was chatting animatedly to Anya and Roy. He acted as if he didn’t notice anything had changed, Anya and Roy simply listened to him with silent smiles. They were both very fond of White Feather, and found him both pleasant and amusing.

The next day, Amaia was working in the field at the back of the home she shared with Roy and Anya. Kneeling in the soft dirt that had recently been ploughed, she worked on tying together a picket fence that had come loose.

‘Here, don’t forget this bit’ White Feather offered helpfully, holding up a loose piece of string that Amaia hadn’t tied yet.

He was in his smaller form now, hovering in the air and holding the piece of string that was at the moment, far longer than his body. His little glass-like wings were fluttering furiously with the extra weight of the string.

‘Thank you White Feather’ Amaia grinned. She took it from him, and continued to work. ‘There’ she said when she was finished. ‘Another job well done.’

‘I’ll say’ White Feather beamed. He landed on her shoulder, placing his hands on his hips and looking down at the now straight fence. ‘It will last long enough until another stray cow decides to blunder through it again.’

‘Yes I know’ Amaia sighed wearily, standing and walking away from the fence. ‘Don’t remind me. I’ve got so much to do today, the work is never ending. More fences to fix, cows to move from here to there, fruit to pick, horses to tend…’

‘I know!’ White Feather cried dramatically, falling back so that he was leaning against the side of her neck. ‘So much toil will ruin my beautiful completion!’

‘You’ve hardly done any work at all!’ Amaia scolded.

‘I carried the string!’ White Feather protested.

‘I’ve been meaning to ask you’ Amaia frowned down at him. ‘Why do you shrink yourself to do that? Isn’t it harder that way?’

‘Hey’ White Feather said defensively. ‘That string gets heavy after a while!’

From her shoulder, White Feather smirked. Coming to sit on his knees he grabbed Amaia’s earlobe, using it to pull himself up. He blew into her ear teasingly. Amaia squealed in delight as White Feather grabbed onto her hair, so that he did not lose balance and topple over.

‘Get off!’ she giggled. ‘That tickles!’

‘It was meant to tickle’ White Feather informed her.

He made himself grow even smaller still, slipping into her shirt and crawling under her armpit.

‘AHH!’ Amaia squeaked. ‘Stop it please I’m begging you!’

White Feather ceased his attack, growing larger again and sitting on her shoulder as before. He leant forward and kissed her on the cheek, leaving her shoulder and floating through the air before her. He grew to his regular size, tall as she was now; he turned to her, grinning slyly.

He tensed slightly; then smiled again. ‘I see Simon coming’ White Feather said. ‘I think he wants to talk to you.’

Amaia felt a twinge of nervousness in her stomach.

‘I wonder what he wants’ Amaia mumbled. ‘I hope everything’s ok….after yesterday…’

‘I’m sure everything will be just fine’ White Feather spoke happily; ‘don’t you worry.’

Seconds later, as White Feather had said, Simon came into view.

Amaia waited with trepidation as he slowed to a stop before her.

‘Hi’ he said to her.

‘Hi’ she replied. ‘Are you….ok…?’

Simon’s eyes slid sideways towards the floor, before returning to her.

‘I’ve just had a lot to think about.’

‘Do you think of me differently now that you know?’ Amaia asked him. ‘Now that you know I’m different from other people?’

‘I don’t know’ Simon spoke slowly. ‘You’re still the same person after all. I just feel that now…I’ve learnt more about you.’

‘I’ve not told anyone else about what I really am. Not even Roy and Anya.’

‘You mean I’m the only one who knows?’

‘Besides from White Feather’ Amaia said. ‘Yes.’

‘Then why did you tell me’ Simon asked her. ‘And why haven’t you told anyone else?’

‘It’s a secret’ Amaia said. ‘But I’ve decided that it’s time to tell you at least.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I want to start a life here’ she told him.

‘You mean you really want to stay here?’ Simon asked. ‘Forever?’

‘Yes.’

‘But what about your father?’

‘He could be anywhere’ Amaia said dismissively. ‘I doubt that I will ever find him now.’

‘Doesn’t that make you sad?’

‘It does’ Amaia said. ‘A little…’

She turned her back to him, willing her mind to move away from thoughts of her father.

‘I don’t want my mind to linger on what I cannot change’ Amaia told him. ‘It’s…too much to bear.’

‘Amaia…’

She felt Simon step closer from behind her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, holding her gently.

‘I want you to be happy’ he said to her. ‘I want to be here for you. I don’t want you to be sad. Not ever.’

‘I don’t want to feel regret’ Amaia said to him. ‘I don’t want to live in the past. I feel….like I’m finally letting go, that I’m accepting everything I have here now.’

‘That’s good isn’t it?’

‘It is.’

Simon stepped back as Amaia faced him; staring up at him with large eyes. For the longest time neither moved. White Feather, who had made himself invisible before Simon had approached, stood a few steps away, holding his breath and watching closely.

Simon moved closer again, lowering his head to hers.

Amaia turned her head away sharply.

‘I have work to do’ she said abruptly, not looking at him. ‘I mustn’t let myself fall behind.’

Simon stepped back, visibly disappointed. He let out a deep sigh. ‘I hope we can meet later today when you’re free’ he said. ‘Goodbye.’

He walked away.

‘Well’ White Feather said loudly once Simon had gone and was out of earshot, ‘that was a missed opportunity.’ He glanced sideways to Amaia. ‘Why did you hesitate?’ he asked her. ‘What’s holding you back?’

Amaia didn’t answer, but stood, facing away from him.

‘Oh’ White Feather said. ‘I understand now.’

Amaia turned to him.

‘You’ve never been in love before have you?’

‘Well…’ Amaia spoke slowly. ‘My options were…limited…over the years.’

‘I don’t doubt.’

White Feather strolled forwards towards the direction Simon had gone, placing his hands on his hips and staring out with a smug expression on his face.

‘This is going to be fun’ he said with a sly tone.

‘Don’t’ Amaia said. ‘Don’t make this difficult. And don’t tease me.’

‘I wouldn’t dare to do any such thing’ White Feather waved back at her. ’But that doesn’t mean to say I’m not allowed some fun. Right?’ he winked at her. ‘I must be off now.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘My dear girl’ White Feather smiled lovingly to Amaia. ’I know we mean a lot to each other, but I can’t be with you all the time. As wonderful as that would be, you have a life of your own.’

Amaia narrowed her eyes with suspicion, frowning with displeasure.

‘Ta ta!’ he said to her. ‘And don’t you worry. I’ll never stray from your side for too long.’

His wings curled outwards, blending into sight from thin air. The delicate glass-like wings began to quiver. His feet left the ground, and he flew upwards, invisible to all except Amaia.

It was impossible for a fairy to make themselves invisible to any Weather Maker, even if they wanted to. Amaia felt some comfort in the fact that she could see him all the time. He was like a life-line to her. A safety blanket. And without him, the world would seem a much darker and more dangerous place.

No matter what had happened, Amaia felt better that White Feather was by her side.

Elsewhere, White Feather fluttered over the heads of the people and houses of the village below him. From where he flew, he had the best view of what he wanted to see. It was only a short time later when he found what he was looking for. White Feather landed on the roof of one of the thatched homes, standing sideways on the slope of the roof so as not to topple off. He crouched low, not that it mattered anyway, as he was still invisible. And there he saw him.

‘Simon’ White Feather gleamed slyly watching him as he worked. ‘Let the games begin.’

Over the next few days, White Feather spent most of his time teasing both Amaia and Simon, drawing them closer together. Strange ‘coincidences’ began to happen; Amaia’s possessions somehow began to turn up on Simon’s person. Simon’s possessions somehow began to turn up on Amaia’s person. The two seemed to somehow always run into each other. Amaia injured herself on some machinery one day, and Simon just happened to be there.

He took her inside, to wash the blood away, and to bandage up the wound. Afterwards, Amaia left to continue work. Simon a short time after went to go find her again, having found her comb, a beautiful glass piece shaped like a flower that was in his pocket. It had been a gift from Roy and Anya. They didn’t know her birthday, so they decided randomly one day that that day was the day. The comb was very precious to her.

‘It’s strange how we keep running into each other like this’ Simon told her, handing the comb back.

‘Thank you’ Amaia said graciously, taking it from him. ‘I was wondering where I’d put that.’

She pocketed it, smiling up at him.

‘Since we’re here’ Simon began. ‘Do you…I mean…do you have…to do any work at the moment. I mean…are you free…with…spare time…?’

Amaia giggled at his awkwardness, spotting suddenly a figure waving to her from a short distance away, over Simon’s shoulder.

White Feather Amaia glowered seeing him. You sly dog you.

‘I would love to’ Amaia said to Simon. ’There is nothing that can’t wait until later.

‘Are you sure?’ Simon asked her, livening up.

‘Of course’ Amaia grinned to him. ‘I’ve got time to spare.’

‘Oh good’ Simon breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Uh…oh gods…’ He scratched the back of his head uncomfortably. ‘If we were in the city I’d take you out for a drink or something. Or maybe visit some exciting attraction.’

‘We don’t have to spend money to enjoy ourselves’ Amaia said to him, taking his arm. ‘We could have fun, right here.’

‘We could?’

Amaia smirked at him in amusement, letting go of him. ‘How many other women have you been with?’

‘What?’ Simon spluttered, waving his arms about. ‘I…I mean…why would you ask me something like that?’

‘I was just wondering’ Amaia said simply, holding her hands before her. ‘I’ve never been with anyone before.’

Simon lowered his arms that he had been seconds earlier waving around as if about to take off. Now he watched Amaia with a relaxed demeanour.

‘I know it sounds weird’ Amaia went on looking away. ‘But…I’ve never been in a relationship before. I’ve never been…in love with someone. I don’t know how it feels.’

‘It feels good’ Simon told her.

‘I’m sure it does’ Amaia said glancing back. ‘Have you been in love before?’

‘Yes’ he nodded.

‘What happened?’

Now Simon looked away. ‘Sometimes….people change’ he answered simply. ‘She was a childhood sweetheart….but….the more she grew, the more she wanted something else.’

‘She wasn’t happy here?’

‘No. It was something I wished I could have changed…but….some people….are just the way they are.’

‘You can’t change people’ Amaia said. ‘It would be wrong to try.’

‘That’s why I didn’t’ Simon faced her again. ‘I figured….that it would work…if it was right. If it didn’t work….then it wasn’t meant to be.’

‘So…’ Amaia began. ‘What happened to her?’

‘She moved to the city’ Simon replied.

‘Where?’

‘I don’t know. I haven’t seen her in ages.’

‘And you haven’t tried looking for her?’

‘No.’ Simon lowered his eyes. ‘She became a different person to the one I knew growing up.’

‘Was it hard to let go?’

‘It was. It took me years to stop regretting, years to stop doubting myself. But I got over it in the end.’

‘How?’

‘I met you.’

Their eyes met for an instant, before Amaia turned away, blushing.

‘Oh gods’ she said. ‘I’ve never done this before.’

‘Well’ he shrugged. ‘There’s always a first time for everything. I just….hope I’m worthy of your affection.’

Amaia looked back at him. ‘You shouldn’t put yourself down like that.’

He shrugged at her again. ‘I don’t mean to…I just….you know.’

Amaia smiled at him.

‘Why don’t we talk somewhere more private?’ he suggested.

Amaia felt a twinge in her heart at this, her stomach flipping over.

‘Alright’ she said.

‘Would you like to hold my hand?’ Simon offered.

‘Um…’ Amaia drew back.

‘It’s alright’ Simon laughed as he lowered his hand again. ‘Just follow me if you like.’

Amaia walked in Simon’s footsteps, glancing back at White Feather who stood on the other side of the field. He hadn’t moved since she last saw him, and was now waving jovially to her and shaking his hands in the air in a celebratory fashion. Amaia scowled at him, turning her back on him and his teasing.

She trailed after Simon. The two left the village, walking into the open plains and becoming dots in the distance.

‘You know what would be a great idea?’ Simon suggested after a time of walking alone together. ‘We should leave the village for a day. And ride away on horses.’

‘You mean to get away?’ Amaia asked. ‘Just the two of us?’

‘We work so hard every day’ he sighed. ‘I just wish…I don’t know…’ he shook his head. ‘There’s always so much work to do…always. It leaves little time for anything else.’

‘Do you wish to move to the city as well then?’ Amaia questioned.

‘No’ Simon turned to the side, his hair blowing back from his face. There was a firm breeze upon the unsheltered plains. ‘Not the city’ he went on. ‘Just somewhere different.’

The next day, the two left their homes early in the morning to meet each other. They each took a horse, and rode away together across the plains. Roy and Anya woke later that day, and were worried when Amaia did not come for breakfast. They went to the room she shared with White Feather, only to find him sitting on the bed as if waiting for them.

When they entered, he simply smiled at them.

Over the next few days, Simon and Amaia would meet regularly and get to know each other, in a way they hadn’t done before.

One evening, the two had stole away. They rode far from the village that had fallen silent in the early night, lit now only by lanterns dotted here and there. The village sat there, like a beast about to slumber.

Two lovers rode far across the plains, hidden deep within the night. They slipped into the even darker world beneath the trees in a forest nearby, and made love in a clearing under the stars.

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