Prin let out a scream in a pitch so high, it was a surprise that all Aster’s perfume bottles remained intact. Elwin dropped the dress at their feet and reached for the insect like thing. His first instinct was to catch it in his cupped hands and protect his prince from its miniaturized (tiny) wrath.

The thing flung itself in a flurry of colorless wings at Prin’s nose, before dodging the oncoming Elwin by flying around Prin’s head in a circle.

Prin looked dizzy but remained upright through sheer force of will. “Elwin, no! Stop! You’re scaring her.”

Elwin continued on for a moment before the words sunk into his head and he stopped suddenly, finding himself leaning in close to Prin, balanced precariously on one foot. “Where is it now?” He whispered, having somehow lost sight of the thing, in its crazy flight pattern around Prin.

“I don’t know . . .” Prin whispered. His eyes were practically crossed in their effort to keep up.

Elwin felt something on the back of his neck, like a soft breath and he shivered. There was a tug on his hair at the nape of his neck. As though . . . something were hanging on, trying not to be dislodged by the movements of his body.

“Its behind me, isn’t it.” Elwin slowly lowered his foot, and even more slowly straightened up and then when he felt steady on his feet (a process that seemed to take excruciatingly long), stood still enough for any bronze statue to envy. What would it do? Would it bite him? Make his head explode? He cast a look at Prin that he knew held more then a little genuine fear.

“O-kay.” Prin said, all in a gently exhale. “Don’t worry, everything will be okay.”

Prin walked on his tip toes around behind Elwin, very slowly. “Hold still, though, okay?”

Elwin could not have been more still. He closed his eyes tightly. “Get it off me. Please.” He said through gritted teeth.

“Shhh shh shh.” Prin whispered from behind Elwin. “We won’t hurt you. We just want to talk to you. And help you. Do you need help?”

Elwin had the urge to swat the back of his neck, like there was a big mosquito there. He tensed up until he could feel it let go and fly away.

“Whoa! Come back!” Prin called. “I trust you, that you aren’t going to hurt us. Now you have to trust me.”

Elwin slowly turned around, not as much tension leaving his body as he would have thought. They were still in a small room with it.

Prin was following the bug as it flew around the room, lighting temporarily on various things and launching back into the air rapidly.

“You must be tired.” Prin said. “And maybe hungry and thirsty. How can we help?” He sat down on the edge of the bed, patting beside him and motioning for Elwin to sit down.

Elwin sat down beside Prin. He really hoped he had a good plan. He found himself hoping that a lot lately.

The fairy-bug- whatever it was hovered in front of the vanity mirror, pausing in its frantic movements as though it were listening to Prin and considering his words.

Elwin couldn’t make out much beyond pale wings attached to some sort of vanishingly small body, but even if it looked like nothing more then a garden variety flying insect, right at home on any flower, and passing immediately beneath notice, it sure didn’t act like any bug.

“Thank you for hearing me out.” Prin said politely. “I think you probably . . . saw what I did? So I should start by saying that I am not a violent person. I mean . . . normally. I just – I’m under a curse and I can’t help what I do. But it won’t happen again for a while.” He turned to Elwin as though wanting to be vouched for in some way. “At least . . . A few days. And anyway you’re too small to eat.” He laughed awkwardly at himself, clearly regretting what he just said on an immediate basis.

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“He wouldn’t hurt his friends, anyway.” Elwin said, hoping it helped.

The bug lighted on the top of a crystal jar, and as they watched its wings slowly changed to a tint more closely resembling the amber colored liquid within the jar.

“That’s so cool! That you can do that.” Prin said. “Here. Let me . . . I wish we had a piece of fruit or something . . .” Prin got up, careful not to make any sudden movements, and took a silver thimble from the sewing table. He wiped out the dust with the hem of his shirt and filled it with water from Aster’s bucket. “Have a drink. Oh! I hope you can tolerate silver! In some of the stories . . . your kind dislike it?” He laughed awkwardly again. “Just so you know I’m not trying to poison you or anything.”

The little thing stretched its wings and walked to the edge of the vanity where Prin had set down the thimble, and bent to take a drink.

“I have a feeling much in the stories is not to be believed.” Elwin said. “But just in case—Do you grant wishes?”

“El, I feel like that was rude.” Prin admonished. “We barely even know each other! Of course, if you can in any way help me rid myself of this curse, or find the witch responsible for it, I would be forever grateful. In your debt, really.”

“Never say something like ‘in your debt’ to a fairy.” Elwin said.

“I thought you didn’t believe in any of this!” Prin said.

Elwin made a gesture towards the vanity. He was seeing it with his own eyes now, what more could he want? Even he wasn’t that much of a sceptic.

“Can you understand what I’m saying?” Prin wondered, as the bug returned to the glass jar it had been sitting on.

“It might not speak our language.” Elwin said.

“If you do, can you give me an indication?” Prin asked. After a long moment, he stood up and walked towards the vanity with his hand stretched out flat, like a child preparing to feed goats at a petting zoo. “Can I see you more up close?”

The little bug leapt into the air and hid behind a colorful scarf that was draped over the corner of the mirror.

“Never mind. Its okay.” Prin sat back down. “Will you come away with us back to where we are staying? We can find you some nice fruit, or flowers, or . . . is it meat? Whichever. They keep a well stocked kitchen. With time enough we can learn to communicate.”

The bug left its hiding spot and returned to the jar on top of the vanity.

“I think she can understand me, Elwin.” Prin said. “Or at least somewhat.”

“You’re just as well off with us.” Elwin suggested. “Its safe where we’ve been staying. And we’ll help you stay hidden. We have no desire to exploit you, like the witch Freya.”

“We only want to talk. About magic and things.” Prin said. “That’s it. I want to free myself from this bloodshed . . . Just like you were freed?”

Perhaps it was the whiff of desperation, or the transparent attempt at manipulation (although goddess bless him for at least trying), Elwin could sense something was being lost.

The bug whizzed up into the air and flew around behind the vanity’s mirror and out of their sight.

Prin sighed. “That’s about how I thought that was going to go.”

Elwin patted Prin’s knee. “I didn’t know what to say either. Except . . . how can we just leave it here?”

“How can we not?” Prin countered. “I mean, what can we do about it?” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “She’s too fast for us to capture. And what would she do to us if we tried?”

Elwin nodded in agreement. They were well and truly screwed.

“I bet you have a home you’d like to get back to.” Prin said to the vanity. After no response, and no return of the little winged thing to their line of sight, he stood up. “We have to go home now. I know . . . you probably want to stay with Aster because she’s beautiful and soft. I don’t blame you, I would feel the same way if I were you. Just please, please, don’t harm Aster or frighten her. I know you won’t, but still . . .” Prin went to the door, picking up the padlock on the way, and motioned for Elwin to follow him out.

Elwin, ever conscientious, put Aster’s dress back in the wardrobe and tied it closed before following Prin. He moved with careful slow deliberation, not wanting the fairy to think he was chasing it down.

Prin took out his own key and locked up Aster’s shed house as they left.

“I didn’t want to push it, I was afraid of what might happen.” He told Elwin as they walked away from the pink house of ill repute. “How could I just leave though . . . Aster . . .”

“We’ll come back soon.” Elwin said, hoping he sounded reassuring.

“What will Valor say? He won’t be happy he missed it all.” Prin said.

Elwin took Prin’s hand in his. “I think you’re beautiful and soft, Prin.”

“Huh? Oh stop.” A smile tugged at one corner of Prin’s mouth, as his cheeks took on a slight flush.

“No really, that’s how I see you.” Elwin said.

Prin chuckled. “Who knew I would have so many blind men in my acquaintance?”