I was not the prettiest of my sisters.

I hadn’t Jana’s fair hair or Elowyn’s raindrop eyes, nor Gella’s graceful figure or Rendra’s sunshine smile. I had a clump of cherry-dark hair, plain slate-gray eyes, and sallow cheeks that never ceased to bloom red. I didn’t enjoy Liddie’s vibrant silken gowns, either, as I always ruined them in a traipse to the woods; clad in mens’ clothing became a permanent state for me, more practical but not flattering in the least. I hadn’t even Calya’s delicate voice; mine was deeper and more resonate, hers more lilted and pleasant.

So when the Stag came, it was not me he would have chosen.

We had been, the seven of us, settled around a vibrant fire, courtesy of Gella, comfortably full and exchanging the day’s gossip. Jessamine from the village was now engaged to some duke and would soon be moving to Overthrow, beyond the Sun Trail. Bartram had raised the prices on venison, on account of a whole herd of deer moving south suddenly. Father was due home any minute; surely enough, Liddie had just begun to tell us of Harun from the village offering her a rose, when Father burst through the thick oaken door, harried.

“It has happened! Lady Fortune grants us peace at last!”

Exchanged glances darted about the room, as us seven sisters waited to discover which of us was apparently courting the king. Nothing else could save our poor family- summer had graced us with happy memories, but we didn’t forget how impoverished we had been last winter, when Father’s hunting no longer provided for the household.

Father was a grizzled man, one known to keep his composure during the death of his wife, during times of seven simultaneous tantrums, and during the darkest storms. Tonight, however, his eyes, gray like mine, were brightened to shale color by excitement, and his coarse walnut hair stuck out in every direction as if whipped by a northern wind.

“What has happened, Father?” Jana, the eldest of us, asked, her brown eyes bright and mirthful.

“A most curious incident,” he said, collapsing upon his armchair. “Of course, I, now having to recount the tale, can scarcely believe it myself!”

Rendra seized his arm. “Oh, do tell us, Father!”

“It happened so quickly, but I’m sure it was real- so dream-like was it that my memory is foggy… He must have been one of your mother’s folk…”

At this, all of us released a collective gasp, and Jana, Liddie, and Gella raised their voices in loud demands for explanation. I watched the scene unfold with baited breath, anticipation pricking the hairs along my arms. What could have passed?

“Settle, and I shall tell you,” Father finally said. He glanced at Jana, the eldest and fairest of us all, and added, “It shall most likely concern you more than your sisters.”

Jana gasped and Liddie released a squeal of delight. Rendra demanded, “What is it, Father? Could it apply to any of us?”

“Oh, yes, to any of you! But most likely, to the prettiest. Of course, you are all equal in my eyes, but Jana has wrought the most suitors.”

I wondered further now at what incident had happened; my own detachment from the situation allowed for heightened curiosity and less nervousness. I saw Calya, not plain by any means but closest to me in scale of appearance, had lost some interest.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“As I rode home this eve,” Father finally began, “I saw something silver flicker between the trees. Of course, I stopped, as any curious adventurer would. Out from the trees stepped a huge, shining White Stag- I could tell he was no ordinary deer, and I daren’t raise my bow at him. Before I could gasp or utter a prayer, he asked me, ‘Are you the father of the seven sisters living west of this way?’ I, of course, said yes.”

“What did he want, Father?” Elowyn demanded, being second-prettiest and thus second most likely affected by this tale.

“He wants a companion,” Father said, still sounding awestruck. “When I told him I was indeed your father, he replied, ‘Good. I have a deal to make with you. Over the course of the next year, wealth enough to live comfortably and support six daughters will be provided to you. Your family will forget altogether the pains of starvation and illness, and be free of work. In exchange for this happiness, I ask that by this time on Saturn’s Day, you bring me the daughter most fit to be my companion.’”

Jana gasped. “Not me, for sure! He’ll ask my hand in marriage without a doubt, and I can’t marry a deer! It’s abominable! Atrocious! Oh, how twisted!”

Her cheeks flamed scarlet and her eyes were bright with dramatis, and Father raised a hand. “Now, now, my dear, please calm yourself. I will never force you.” He looked among them. “However, I will be departing for Hanswatch to the east tomorrow at dawn, and will return the morning of Saturn’s Day. It will be between the seven of you to decide whom shall go.” He rose from his chair and stretched. “As for me, it was a long day hunting, and I shall rest. You may discuss the matter amongst yourselves; but by the morning of Saturn’s Day, it must be decided.”

And so, for the next four days, a house of seven girls clustered and caterwauled with high debate and heavy uncertainty. Jana wavered between being too beautiful to ever marry a deer, and too responsible to let the dismal fate befall her younger sisters. Gella saw it as an adventure, but worried she may not be allowed to return and tell the tale. Elowyn, beautiful and sweet, did not fault the Stag for what he was, but she cowered at the idea of leaving Father’s side. Liddie, ever exuberant, spoke in hushed tones to whoever would listen about which sister she thought should go, and each day her opinion on this changed- never thinking that she herself might be the best suit. Rendra refused to speak on the matter, and when asked haughtily replied she thought the whole ordeal was ghastly and primeval. It was no longer the age of dowries and betrothals, and she was offended Father would even consider such a proposal. Calya, with distraught blue eyes, wouldn’t speak on it at all.

But on Frigga’s Day at sunset, a mere twelve hours before Father’s return, a cloaked messenger appeared at the door and bestowed Rendra with a closed basket. Rendra turned to ask the man what was in it, but when she looked up, he had gone. Her sisters gathered around her in a dither, and within the basket saw innumerable gold coins. Gasps filled the room, astonishment permeating the expressions of each of us.

It was then I remembered something our mother had told me long ago, when I was but a sproutling and she still maintained a healthy flush in her cheeks.

Mother, being of the faye race, had been granted the ability to bestow “gifts” upon the young. And so, when each of her daughters were born, they were given a specific gift. Jana had received Beauty, Elowyn was given Compassion, Gella lived a life dictated by Grace. Rendra had Reason, Liddie the gift of Laughter, and Calya was granted Music. When I had come along, screaming and displeased with the world, my mother had hesitated. She had known I would be her last child, and had no desire to rush deciding a gift. When I fell ill my first night into the world, and no faye magic could save me, she had wept and whispered, Have courage, dear child- for it is all that may save you now.

Have courage, she had told me then, and had repeated as I grew. Thus the words rang through me then; as my sisters began to ramble excitedly among each other, I saw the situation before me. I was the least likely of us to call a suitor, being the youngest and plainest- we were none of us ugly, having faye blood, but I was made plain by comparison to Jana’s beauty. I was adventurous to the point of being troublesome. And I, more than any of my sisters, had courage.

“Have courage,” I whispered to myself, hearing my mother’s voice in my head. I stepped forward and faced my sisters, and decided my fate: “I will go.”