Summary: A haughty elf is taught a little lesson about bigotry.
Anyone who is under the age of 18, along with anyone offended by stories of a sexual nature or containing sexual situations or offended by the idea of mind control in any fashion, please do not read this story.
Author's Note -- Wow, I just want to say, thank everyone for the kind emails! If you have any suggestions, critiques, concerns, or comments, I'd absolutely love feedback; I'm very happy to be giving back to this nice site. Hope you enjoy!
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"Will the accused stand? The Queen has reached her verdict."
I glowered at the tiny fairy flitting by my ear, then grudgingly rose to my feet. At least I hadn't been shackled or chained, but the fact that I was surrounded by so many of the awful little sprites made me feel a sick. Nevertheless, I stood and gazed up at the fairy queen relaxing in her throne.
Even though Titania appeared to as a fair skinned woman of average height and appearance, I knew better. She was a powerful creature, and could assume whatever form that pleased her. She gazed at me with an enigmatic expression, and it was all I could do to keep myself from shouting up at her. I knew that wouldn't help my case, though.
Titania quirked an eyebrow at me, as if she knew what I was thinking. With a crystalline voice, she spoke. "Nissa, you've been accused not only of coming into our sacred temple without permission looking to pilfer our cherished relics, but you subdued and imprisoned three of my people within cages, with intent to use them as hostages." She looked around the viridian courtroom, a bemused expression on her face. "I have to say, even for an elf, that behavior seems surprisingly immoral." Soft, tinkling laughter rose up from the various fairies flitting about the courtroom, and it took all of my willpower not to smack a few of them out of the air.
Titania leaned down towards me. "Well, elf? Do you have anything to say?"
I scowled back at her as my temper rose. "All I have to say is that you'll let me go if you know what's good for you. You have no right to keep me hear, and if my people hear about how you've treated me, they'll-"
She interrupted me with a bit of soft laughter. "How we've treated you? My dear, you've forfeited your rights the moment you engaged in theft and violence against us. And I highly doubt your 'oh-so-noble' people would be willing to consort with....hmm...what did you call us as we arrested you? 'Filthy, disease-ridden, perverted insects?' Yes, I don't think they'd be willing to consort with us for a common thief like you."
I banged my hand down on the table in front of me, nearly shaking with anger. "How dare you talk to me like that! I've already told you, I wasn't planning on stealing anything, and if I was they certainly wouldn't be worthless fae trinkets!"
A few of the floating motes of light around the room shook angrily, and I felt a surge of satisfaction as I watched a few of the tiny forms within give me rude gestures.
Titania sighed, shifting in her throne as she looked down at me. "Yes, yes, we've heard your story before; you were lost, and those three priests just flew into the cages on their own and we caught you as you were trying to let them out."
I nodded fervently, trying to look innocent and sweet, batting my eyes up at her and biting my lower lip a little.
It had to be a woman judge, not a man
, I thought bitterly to myself. Still, maybe she would buy it....for a powerful magical being, she didn't seem anything like the stories I had heard, and she certainly didn't seem as bright as I had heard..."It's the truth, ma'am, and I'm very sorry about my outburst earlier...I was, um, feeling really stressed and scared..."
Titania waved her hand as I finished talking, and I blinked my eyes a few times, yawning; it felt as though a weird pressure had fallen over me for a second, and I shivered a little as my body adjusted. She gave me a small smile, then spoke. "I'm sorry, but could I please ask you to tell the truth, Nissa?"
I opened my mouth to give her the same sob-story, maybe to work in a lie about being under a mind control spell, but what came out was, "Well, I knew your temple would be deserted at this time of year, and I had heard that you had priceless gems, as well as gold. I figured I could take it and escape before you'd be any wiser." My eyes widened, and I slapped my hands over my mouth in shock. I hadn't meant to say that stuff! I mean....it was the truth, but I hadn't meant to say that! I gazed up at the smirking queen in confusion.