Between Elsewhere

The sunlight shone through the leafy roof of the forest making patterns of moving lace upon the ground. A dragon of pure white flew over the shadowy ground, its wings slicing through the air with gliding lifts and falls as if pushing the elements into obedience. Sitting on the dragon’s back, as an extension of the magnificent beast, was a delicate fairy, her gossamer wings dancing in the breeze. She leaned down. Her long fire colored hair intertwined with the dragon’s gleaming white mane. In a voice as melodic as a songbird she whispered, “together we fly my dragon.”

As always, their minds flowed one into the other whispering messages of endearment that only the two of them understood. From the beginning, their connection had been so, Panya the Princess of fairies and Starla, the first-born dragon of the clan of the Sky Wing. At 16 Panya and Starla had chosen each other to be as one; forever pledging protection and loyalty.

As the dragon flew through the forest with heavy thundering wings, Panya laughed and the birds stopped to listen.

Suddenly, their minds connected sensing evil. “Blackfire Dragon is behind us Starla,” Panya said as she glanced behind her. “We must escape!” Knowing that violence was forbidden by the law of Fairy, Panya, her warrior heart, beating in time with Starla’s, felt capable of saving the fairy world. If threatened, she would have the courage to do whatever needed to be done to protect her winged people,

.

Meanwhile, inside the fairy castle, there was bustling activity. “Princess Panya is 16 today, the day of her crowning as Princess of all fairies,” said Queen Calatea to her guest, Kalean a mortal invited to share the celebration. He considered this statement. “What does this mean my lady? Will Princess Panya assume new responsibilities?” The Queen smiled, a wistful smile as she answered, “Ah yes, Kaelan. She will now receive all her fairy powers and must be careful with them. For if she becomes too enamored of power, it will be her downfall and all fairies will suffer. Whatever happens to Panya happens to all.”

Listening to the laws of the fairy world, Kalean had difficulty understanding. It was so different from the mortal world that he inhabited. Since his arrival this morning, he had marveled at the enchanting world of fairy. Kaelan felt like a bull in a china shop among these graceful creatures. But he had been invited by King Rasmus as an honored friend. “I pledge my enduring friendship to you, Kalean,” the King had declared. For Kalen had rescued the King from brutal pirates.

Kalean grew to love the King and was happy to accept an invitation into the world of fairy. Though he observed that these fairies led an enchanted life of dancing and singing, he sensed an undercurrent of strength and resilience.

Just then the bakers entered carrying a cake of sixteen layers, frosted white and trimmed in pink swirls of sparkling frosting that looked as light as foam on an ocean wave. “Where shall we put the cake my queen?” asked a rotund small baker as he balanced one side of the cake.

“In the ballroom by the gazing pond, please,” instructed the queen.

“There is a pond in your ballroom?” asked Kaelan incredulously.

“Well, of course!” said Queen Calatea as if this should be common knowledge. “Panya must gaze into it at midnight to see the face of her future husband.”

“And if she does not look at midnight, what then will happen?” Kaelan questioned.

Shuddering, the Queen replied. “If Panya does not to look into the gazing pond at midnight on her sixteenth birthday, and see the face of her future husband, others have permission to vie for her hand. But to have her as wife, the suitor must tame her dragon. The one who can ride her dragon and give it commands will be her husband. Even an evil Lord may try to marry Panya and destroy the fairy world that we know. We must make sure Panya gazes into the pond or we are in grave danger.”

Reminiscing her own 16th birthday, the Queen was misty eyed, “As was the custom, the celebrations commenced on the morning of my 16th birthday. As the only daughter of the queen and king of fairies I was to take on my duties that evening. At midnight, I looked into the pond, gazing upon the face of Rasmus” she smiled, “He tamed my dragon, Moongale, easily.”

Kaelen was mesmerized by her story. Dragon minds connecting with fairy minds boggled his mind! The evening to come would surely be something he would never forget.

However, on a brooding cliff, in a dark, damp castle, Panya was staring at the stone walls surrounding her. Her wings ached for they were tied with the magical thread cast on her by evil Lord Joah. She shuddered remembering his brutal capture and how he had laughed as he bound her wings and locked her in the castle tower. Oh, how she fought him with all her might. But in the end, when the most vulnerable part of being fairy, her wings, were bound, she was captured.

“I have you now my sweet fairy,” he jeered, “and you will be here until well after midnight. My father was crushed when your mother did not see his face in the pond on her 16th birthday. I can rest assured that you will not see a simpering fool as she did, because I will hold you here until the time has passed. Then, I will tame your dragon and you will be my bride. I will have revenge for my father and I will destroy the despicable fairy race.”

“Never!” Panya yelled at him. But he jeered and left her sitting on the cold stone floor. Weeping, her tears formed a glistening puddle. ‘I was foolish to have gone out by myself. Starla will return without me, and my family and fairies will be alerted.’

Gazing into her pool of tears, a shimmery image of a man’s face appeared. Panya had never seen this handsome face before. Why did he appear in her tears? Who was this stranger, and why did her heart quicken while looking at him?

Panya heard the creak of the tower door behind her as footsteps echoed on the stone floor. Someone was approaching, so she quickly turned to shield the visitor from seeing the face in her pool of tears.

“I’ve brought your dinner, sweet Fairy,” said a female voice filled with sympathy.

A plump, elderly woman wearing an apron and cook’s cap set a tray on the table.

“Not knowing what fairies eat, I did my best.” She gestured to each item on the tray. “Theres’s fairy cakes, wildflower tea, and creamy vegetables over parsnips and potatoes.”

As a fairy senses the true soul of everyone she meets, Panya understood that this lady was kind, gentle and sympathetic.

“Thank you, I’m sure the food is delicious, but I am not hungry,” Panya said.

“Nonsense,” said the kindly woman, “You must eat or you will not have the strength needed when the time comes.”

‘A very surprising remark,’ thought Panya. Dare she ask what was meant by such a statement?

“Pardon me Madam,” Panya said hesitantly, “but I question the meaning of what you say?”

As the servant set down the tray, she sighed. “I know what Lord Joah plans. Let me explain how I came to be his servant. My skills in the kitchen were known by the entire village. Lord Joah wants the best for himself in everything, including those who serve him. One day he sent his guards out to abduct me from my home. I was forced to become his cook. Although my family has tried to rescue me, they cannot. I would rather spend my days in this dark castle, then for harm to come any of my loved ones.” Wiping a tear from her eye she said, “Now I see that he means the same for you, sweet fairy. He wants you as his wife. But I have hope you will be rescued! Alas, it will be quite difficult. I would untie your wings myself, but Lord Joah has put a curse on the magic string. Whoever unties it will be strangled with it as well as you my dear. I think little of myself, but could not bear it if you were harmed.”

“Do not fret, kind lady,” said Panya, “For I know there will be a way for my escape.”

As Starla landed in the castle courtyard, the groomsmen were startled to see her. They rushed into the castle to report the dragon’s return.

“Some harm has come to Panya!” the Queen cried. “Otherwise, Starla would not have returned alone.”

Activity began in a frenzy. The forest would be searched for any clues of Panya’s whereabouts.

Though the searching went well past nightfall, Panya was not located. Kaelan had participated in the search and was exhausted. He went into the ballroom at midnight to retrieve his drink, and as he walked past the gazing pond, a face appeared. As if struck by lightning, he stared at the most beautiful face he had ever seen. The delicate features showed great sadness, her gaze a mixture of longing and determination. Kaelan knew with every fiber of his being that this was Panya, and that she would be his wife.

Knowing that midnight had passed, he realized that even if he rescued Panya, he must first tame her dragon. Swiftly, he found King Rasmus and said, “I must ride Starla so that she will lead me to Panya. Please lead me to the dragon; I intend to vie for Panya’s hand in marriage.”

The King was taken aback. But the determination in Kalean’s eyes was a sure sign that his daughter would be rescued.

“Godspeed my friend. The dragon awaits you in the courtyard.”

Looking at the snow-white dragon in front of him, Kaelen was mesmerized. Could he, a mere mortal, ride this powerful beast? Bold, black eyes of the dragon cast their gaze upon him, ‘I will take you to Panya and we will rescue her’ the dragon clearly stated to him without uttering a sound. And with that Starla bowed, so that Kalean approached and got onto her back. Kalean took one last look behind him, witnessing the astonished faces of all in the courtyard, and then he was soaring through the air on the back of a dragon.

They landed in the courtyard of an eerie castle. Starla bowed low and Kaelen slid off his back.

‘You will find her inside; wings tied with deadly twine. I trust that you will conquer the evil Joah and bring Panya to me,’ Kaelen sensed from the dragon.

Scaling the palace wall, Kaelen found a slim window opening to enter. He heard a menacing deep voice taunting someone, and a melodic voice answer. He knew it was Panya.

Sliding stealthily along the wall, Kalean found himself beside a heavy wooden door. Trying to crash through may prove futile. But he must be quick Suddenly a movement beside him caught him off guard. He whirled to see a portly small woman with a finger to her lips She winked and inserted a key into the lock. “Your meal, my Lady,” she said entering the room.

Kalean followed without hesitation. He drew his sword said to Joah. “Untie her or die!”

Joah laughed, “The thread is cursed. You untie her and you both will die!”

Joah stood beside Panya still laughing. as Kalean grabbed the thread around Panya. Kalean quickly tied Joah up with Panya. Astonished, Joah had no choice but to remove the spell from the evil thread.

“I break this curse” he hissed. The rope fell away and Panya ran into the arms of Kalean.

Taking the humble servant with them they rode the white dragon home to a lifetime of love.

🧜🏼‍♀️🧜🏼‍♀️🧜🏼‍♀️🧜🏼‍♀️🧜🏼‍♀️

Carol J. Douglas lives in Dublin, Ohio. She began writing stories from the time she learned to read and write. She has had many children’s poems, stories, and articles published as well as romance stories both online and in print. “A Recipe for Love” is published in the December 1, 2025 issue of Woman’s World Magazine and her romance story, “To a Tea,” is the most recent in Micromance Magazine. Her stories are also included in the Kissmet books published by Micromance. She and her husband, Jeff, have been married for 44 years and have two adult children, Justin and Emelia.

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